RNC 2012: Congressional Republicans to attend Log Cabin fundraiser

TAMPA, Fla. — A trio of House Republicans have been named as attendees at a National Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser taking place in Tampa, Fla., on the final day of the Republican National Convention.

In a statement Thursday, the organization revealed that three U.S. House members — Reps. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) and Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) — would be special guests on Thursday at a closed-press fundraiser for Log Cabin’s political action committee called “Celebrating Congressional Allies.”

Also named as a guest is Richard Grenell, a former Bush administration official at the United Nations who for a week was the foreign policy spokesperson for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign.

The lawmakers’ records on LGBT issues are mixed. Over the course of her five terms in Congress, Bono Mack voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and 2006 and in later years voted in favor of hate crimes protections legislation and a sexual orientation-only version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Bono Mack initially voted against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” when it first came to the House floor in May 2010, but after the Pentagon report was published laying out a path for open service, she was among 15 Republicans to vote to end the military’s gay ban in December. In the current Congress, she voted against the three House Republican amendments on the House floor reaffirming the Defense of Marriage Act. Bono Mack is the stepmother of transgender advocate Chaz Bono.

Biggert has the distinction of voting for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal — even in May before the Pentagon report on implementing open service came out — and voting for repeal again in December. In addition to voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and 2006, Biggert voted for hate crimes protections and a sexual orientation-only version of ENDA. She’s also voted against amendments affirming DOMA.

Dold has only been serving in the House for one term, so his voting record is limited. Even so, his voting record on LGBT rights isn’t great. He voted for three amendments on the House floor reaffirming DOMA. Democrat Brad Schneider, who’s running against him in the general election, is criticizing Dold for allegedly not supporting ENDA.

The fundraiser isn’t the only event that Log Cabin is hosting this week. Other events include a jointly hosted brunch with Freedom to Marry on Wednesday and another event with the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund on Monday with gay former U.S. House member Jim Kolbe.

The gay conservative GOProud is hosting its annual Homocon event at The Honey Pot nightclub on Tuesday. Grenell is a confirmed guest as well as Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; conservative pundit Mary Matalin; and Amy Kremer, chair of the Tea Party Express.