by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

The Log Cabin Republicans, the GOP's largest LGBT group, announced it would decommission its Dallas chapter because of its 'leadership's established record of countering official positions long held by the Log Cabin Republicans such as our support for employment non-discrimination.'

Dallas chapter president Robert Schlein defended discrimination against African Americans during a national radio interview that went off the rails.

Schlein regularly writes controversial op-eds for the Dallas Voice newspaper, and one of his columns got him an invitation to appear on Michelangelo Signorile's radio show in September.

During a discussion of anti-discrimination laws - which Schlein opposes, even for LGBT workers - Schlein let himself be drawn off topic.

'Texas is a right-to-work state. So as an employer, which I am, I can fire anybody at will,' Schlein asserted.

'You cannot fire somebody for being African-American,' Signorile objected.

'Well, I wouldn't tell them,' Schlein said.

'You wouldn't tell them, but you'd do it anyway?' Signorile asked.

'I'd find a reason if I wanted to fire them,' Schlein said, defending discrimination against black people while trying to prove an antidiscrimination law would make no difference to LGBT people.

Unlike its Gay Republican rival GOProud, Log Cabin has always supported anti-discrimination legislation.

'When the leadership of one of our chapters chooses to undermine the credibility, effectiveness, and mission of Log Cabin Republicans through their actions, we are forced to enact corrective measures for the good of the greater organization,' Log Cabin Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper said in an email statement to The Advocate.

'It is unfortunate that the former leadership of Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas, particularly its president Rob Schlein, have engaged in a consistent pattern of behavior that detracts from the mission of our organization. After all due consideration and efforts at reconciliation, the Board of Directors have decided to begin anew, ensuring that our mission of fighting for freedom can be at its strongest in Dallas and across the country.'

Cooper says Log Cabin is 're-chartering' the Dallas chapter, which means it will eventually reemerge with a new board and new officers.

'After all due consideration and efforts at reconciliation, the [LCR national] board of directors have decided to begin anew, ensuring that our mission of fighting for freedom can be at its strongest in Dallas and across the country,' Cooper said in a statement on Oct. 12.

Meanwhile, Schlein claims he is being pushed out for inviting the leaders of GOProud to speak at an upcoming event. GOProud is run by former members of Log Cabin, who claim to be more conservative.

'I think it is sad, a real shame, that the two groups that represent Gay conservatives can't work together just because they attack the issues from different perspectives,' Schlein told the Dallas Voice.

'We will continue to work on behalf of Gay conservatives in Dallas, and the Grand Old Party dinner will go on,' he added.

'We are looking forward to putting on a great event with [GOProud co-founders] Chris Barron and Jimmy LaSalvia as our guest speakers.'

The Voice reports that Schlein plans to launch his own group, which he plans to call Metroplex Republicans.

 Share on Facebook

Share on MySpace!

    Share on Delicious

Share on StumbleUpon!