Arguing for marriage equality within the GOP

Three prominent Republican champions of gay rights appear for the Assembly Series

Can an anti-gay rights Republican candidate win the 2016 presidential election? Will the Supreme Court rule in favor of same-sex equality, and what would a positive ruling actually mean? Are the majority of Republican voters in America in sync with their party regarding this issue?

McCain

These, and many more questions surrounding this divisive issue, will be covered by a panel of Republican advocates for marriage equality for the Washington University in St. Louis Assembly Series. The event, “Marriage Equality and the GOP,” will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Graham Chapel on the Danforth Campus.

The panel is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Washington University College Republicans student organization and funded by Student Union.

Panelists are Gregory T. Angelo, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR); Fred Karger, political consultant, activist and the first openly gay Republican presidential candidate; and Meghan McCain, media personality, author and gay rights advocate. Jill Stratton, PhD, associate dean of undergraduate residential learning, will moderate the panel.

Angelo leads LCR, a national organization founded in the 1970s to help build a stronger, more inclusive, more tolerant Republican Party. Prior to holding national office, he served as chairman of LCR’s New York state organization, where he led a coalition called New Yorkers United for Marriage. Angelo also is the executive director of the Liberty Education Forum, a nonpartisan think tank that advocates a message of gay acceptance among conservatives and people of faith throughout the United States.

Karger’s career as a political consultant began in 1977 with the Dolphin Group. There, he helped lead a number of state and national political campaigns and ballot initiatives, including the presidential campaign of Robert Dole. Karger’s unsuccessful bid in 2012 for a presidential nomination as an independent Republican is documented in the 2014 film, “Fred.”

McCain, daughter of Arizona Sen. John McCain, has been a public figure since appearing at the 1996 Republican National Convention at age 11. She is an outspoken champion of gay rights. She also serves on the board of directors of GLAAD, an organization that advocates for the LGBT community in its portrayals in media.

A reception in Holmes Lounge will follow the program.

For information on this and other Assembly Series programs scheduled for the spring 2015 semester, visit assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 314-935-4620.