Republican Allies Fight for Inclusive Violence Against Women Act

(Washington, DC) - Log Cabin Republicans call upon House Republicans to support an inclusive Violence Against Women Act which protects LGBT Americans.

"Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support under the leadership of Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID). Unfortunately, the bill passed by the House gutted important provisions out of the legislation that need to be restored in conference," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. "Nobody should be able to get away with domestic abuse just because their victim is gay, transgender, an immigrant or Native American, and nobody should be denied help in recovering from abuse. Log Cabin Republicans thank our allies, leaders like Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Nan Hayworth (R-NY), Bob Dold (R-IL) and Judy Biggert (R-IL), for their leadership in supporting an LGBT-inclusive version of VAWA.

At the same time, while negotiations are ongoing regarding this sensitive and important legislation, it is crucial that activists avoid incendiary comments like the personal attack issued by the National Organization for Women against House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). Such remarks are not helpful to this discussion, and only distract from the important issue at hand - protecting victims and punishing perpetrators of domestic violence."

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Log Cabin Republicans promotes legislation to provide basic fairness for gay and lesbian Americans and works to build a more inclusive GOP. The 30-year old organization has state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time office in Washington, DC, a federal political action committee and state political action committees.