The Log Cabin Republicans of San Francisco
is the nation's oldest LGBT Republican Group
is the nation's oldest LGBT Republican Group
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In early August 1977, Concerned Republicans for Individual Rights (CRIR) was organized as a gay/straight alliance of San Francisco Republicans who wanted to oppose Proposition 6, the Briggs' Initiative (which would have given local school districts the right to ban LGBT teachers, administrators, counselors, and employees from employment), and to help grow the Party in the burgeoning LGBT Community. Similar groups formed in Southern California around the same time. Thanks to the leadership of these groups, then Governor Ronald Reagan was persuaded to formally oppose the Briggs Initiative, and it lost at the ballot box.
In October 1981, sister organizations in Southern California met with the San Francisco group for the first time. In the ensuing years, chapters were formed in Palm Springs, Long Beach, and Santa Clara County. In August 1987, a statewide conference was held of the clubs was held at UC Irvine and a formal merger took place, the precursor to today's Log Cabin Republicans of California.
Six years later, in October 1987, representatives from the chapters from California met with chapter leaders from around the country in Washington, D.C. as an offshoot to the March on Washington, and formed United Republicans for Equality and Privacy (UREP). In 1992 UREP became the Log Cabin Federation (named so because President Abraham Lincoln grew-up in a log cabin) and opened an office in Washington, D.C. The Federation morphed into the Log Cabin Republicans in 1994.
Log Cabin Republicans of California was formally reorganized in 2012 and has since grown to 10 chapters statewide. In February 2015, Log Cabin California was officially chartered as a volunteer organization by the California Republican Party – the first in the nation of a statewide Log Cabin organization. In 2023, the California Republican Party voted overwhelmingly to grant a permanent volunteer organization charter to the Log Cabin Republicans of California.
The San Francisco chapter continues to provide a leading voice for LGBT Republicans in San Francisco and in California.
In October 1981, sister organizations in Southern California met with the San Francisco group for the first time. In the ensuing years, chapters were formed in Palm Springs, Long Beach, and Santa Clara County. In August 1987, a statewide conference was held of the clubs was held at UC Irvine and a formal merger took place, the precursor to today's Log Cabin Republicans of California.
Six years later, in October 1987, representatives from the chapters from California met with chapter leaders from around the country in Washington, D.C. as an offshoot to the March on Washington, and formed United Republicans for Equality and Privacy (UREP). In 1992 UREP became the Log Cabin Federation (named so because President Abraham Lincoln grew-up in a log cabin) and opened an office in Washington, D.C. The Federation morphed into the Log Cabin Republicans in 1994.
Log Cabin Republicans of California was formally reorganized in 2012 and has since grown to 10 chapters statewide. In February 2015, Log Cabin California was officially chartered as a volunteer organization by the California Republican Party – the first in the nation of a statewide Log Cabin organization. In 2023, the California Republican Party voted overwhelmingly to grant a permanent volunteer organization charter to the Log Cabin Republicans of California.
The San Francisco chapter continues to provide a leading voice for LGBT Republicans in San Francisco and in California.
Historical Text courtesy of Christopher Bowman.
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