Patrick Guerriero said his father took the news of his son's political affiliation harder than when he told him he was gay.
"I was petrified to tell him about my life," he said. "But he just reached out and touched me on the shoulder and said, 'I love you. Let's go watch the Red Sox.'"
Guerriero, national president of Log Cabin Republicans, traveled to more than 40 states in the past few weeks to educate people about the organization.
He was in Downtown Albuquerque on Tuesday night at the District Bar and Grill.
"One thing I like about being here is, there are more Republicans in this room than in my home state," he said, referring to Massachusetts.
He said his father was shocked to learn his son was conservative in the liberal state where he grew up.
"It's a weird thing when it's easier being gay than being
Republican," Guerriero said.
Patrick Killen, president of the New Mexico chapter, said Log Cabin Republicans is an organization representing predominantly
gay people who support the basic fundamentals
of conservative ideology, such as lower taxes and smaller
government.
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"I love my party," he said. "But I believe the people of the Republican Party have become too focused on narrow views."
Killen said he is a Christian. However, the government should
not affiliate itself with any religion, he said.
"We have a secular government," he said.
The government should stay out of people's bedrooms, he said, adding
that the Republican Party has been catering too much to Christian
agendas.
"You have a group of people who base their opinions on faith and use
it as a driving force," Killen said. "I think we need to use our Republican
Party to bring us together and not tear us apart."
Guerriero agreed with Killen's statement.
"Most gay and lesbian people I meet are religious people," he said.
"Why pit the religious right against that?"
Student Marshall Martinez, who is a former president of UNM's College
Democrats, attended the forum. He said the reality of politics is to reach across partisan lines, but said he doesn't necessarily believe
the Log Cabin Republicans are going to make headway in their campaign.
"The issue of equality for gays and lesbians is directly linked to
financial equality," Martinez said. "Tax cuts for the rich is not equality."
Guerriero said President Bush's proposed Social Security reform is
good for Americans, because it will allow people who invest in private
accounts to leave their benefits to their partners if they choose to.
He said he is fighting for equal rights for gay people in the military.
"I have friends in Baghdad who are remarkable and courageous,"
he said. "And how unfair is it for a friend to not be able to tell his commanding officer if he dies, to contact his partner?"
About 20 people came to hear Guerriero speak. He stressed the
importance of gays and lesbians working with conservative politicians.
"If it's civil unions or gay marriage you are pushing, you'll never get that without getting Republican support," he said.
