http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/909/909_norepublican.asp

First, his home state passed one of the nation's most restrictive laws
outlawing same-sex marriage and many domestic-partner benefits. Then the
President announced his support for writing discrimination into the U.S.
Constitution. This Ohio gay activist has had enough and this week
relinquished his duties as a longtime member of the Republican Party of
Cuyahoga County.

Why I'm quitting the Republican Party
by John Farina
February 27, 2004

It's finally come to this: I can't be a Republican anymore.

This was an extremely difficult decision for me to reach. I've been a
Republican all my life. But February 24 at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, the
president changed things for me.
For the past 20 years, even before I was registered to vote, I have worked
within the Republican Party. I've been a candidate, held leadership
positions in the party, and given generously of my time and money.

I have had many arguments with my gay friends defending the GOP and certain
elected Republicans. I have had many friends and mentors who have all been
valuable parts of my life. It's tough to walk away from something that I
have been so much a part of. But knowing my president wants to officially
sanction discrimination against me, I cannot in good conscience remain a
Republican.

It was bad enough that my Republican friends in the Ohio legislature, people
who know me (and know better) and whom I've vigorously supported, voted for
a divisive, unnecessary, and discriminatory so-called defense of marriage
bill-despite my best lobbying efforts. I now have the president, the leader
of the party and the free world, telling me we must sanction this type of
discrimination in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Quite frankly, I'm sick over it. It is an insult to me as a lifelong
Republican and it does nothing to strengthen marriage. It is an obviously
political move that will do nothing but divide the nation even further. So
much for Mr. Bush being a uniter. I can think of no other time in our
country's history when the president has sought to so directly limit the
rights of a group of Americans. This is not a true conservative value; it is
that of the radical right.

I realize that many Americans may not support or even understand same-sex
marriage, and that's fine with me. But amending the Constitution for this
purpose is morally wrong. I think most Americans will find this disturbing
as well, and it will ultimately cost Bush votes. I know I'll do my part to
work against the president and any elected official who ultimately supports
this attack on civil rights.

The party has been overtaken, both nationally and in Ohio, by hard-right
social conservatives that seem hell-bent on moving the country in reverse on
civil rights, seemingly at the expense of more important issues such as
fiscal responsibility. At one time in history, the Republican Party was a
leader in civil rights-that Republican Party no longer exists. I always felt
it was important to remain active and fight such blatant attempts at
discrimination, but that effort is obviously futile.

I will still count many Republican as friends, and the response I have
received from many of them shows they understand this very difficult,
personal decision. In fact, one elected Republican official told me the GOP
has left me. On Tuesday, March 2, I will pick up a Democratic ballot in the
Ohio primary (and vote for John Edwards) and begin a new chapter of
political activism in my life.

http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/909/909_norepublican.asp

First, his home state passed one of the nation's most restrictive laws
outlawing same-sex marriage and many domestic-partner benefits. Then the
President announced his support for writing discrimination into the U.S.
Constitution. This Ohio gay activist has had enough and this week
relinquished his duties as a longtime member of the Republican Party of
Cuyahoga County.

Why I'm quitting the Republican Party
by John Farina
February 27, 2004

It's finally come to this: I can't be a Republican anymore.

This was an extremely difficult decision for me to reach. I've been a
Republican all my life. But February 24 at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, the
president changed things for me.
For the past 20 years, even before I was registered to vote, I have worked
within the Republican Party. I've been a candidate, held leadership
positions in the party, and given generously of my time and money.

I have had many arguments with my gay friends defending the GOP and certain
elected Republicans. I have had many friends and mentors who have all been
valuable parts of my life. It's tough to walk away from something that I
have been so much a part of. But knowing my president wants to officially
sanction discrimination against me, I cannot in good conscience remain a
Republican.

It was bad enough that my Republican friends in the Ohio legislature, people
who know me (and know better) and whom I've vigorously supported, voted for
a divisive, unnecessary, and discriminatory so-called defense of marriage
bill-despite my best lobbying efforts. I now have the president, the leader
of the party and the free world, telling me we must sanction this type of
discrimination in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Quite frankly, I'm sick over it. It is an insult to me as a lifelong
Republican and it does nothing to strengthen marriage. It is an obviously
political move that will do nothing but divide the nation even further. So
much for Mr. Bush being a uniter. I can think of no other time in our
country's history when the president has sought to so directly limit the
rights of a group of Americans. This is not a true conservative value; it is
that of the radical right.

I realize that many Americans may not support or even understand same-sex
marriage, and that's fine with me. But amending the Constitution for this
purpose is morally wrong. I think most Americans will find this disturbing
as well, and it will ultimately cost Bush votes. I know I'll do my part to
work against the president and any elected official who ultimately supports
this attack on civil rights.

The party has been overtaken, both nationally and in Ohio, by hard-right
social conservatives that seem hell-bent on moving the country in reverse on
civil rights, seemingly at the expense of more important issues such as
fiscal responsibility. At one time in history, the Republican Party was a
leader in civil rights-that Republican Party no longer exists. I always felt
it was important to remain active and fight such blatant attempts at
discrimination, but that effort is obviously futile.

I will still count many Republican as friends, and the response I have
received from many of them shows they understand this very difficult,
personal decision. In fact, one elected Republican official told me the GOP
has left me. On Tuesday, March 2, I will pick up a Democratic ballot in the
Ohio primary (and vote for John Edwards) and begin a new chapter of
political activism in my life.

It's finally come to this: I can't be a Republican anymore.

http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/909/909_norepublican.asp

First, his home state passed one of the nation's most restrictive laws
outlawing same-sex marriage and many domestic-partner benefits. Then the
President announced his support for writing discrimination into the U.S.
Constitution. This Ohio gay activist has had enough and this week
relinquished his duties as a longtime member of the Republican Party of
Cuyahoga County.

Why I'm quitting the Republican Party
by John Farina
February 27, 2004

It's finally come to this: I can't be a Republican anymore.

This was an extremely difficult decision for me to reach. I've been a
Republican all my life. But February 24 at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, the
president changed things for me.
For the past 20 years, even before I was registered to vote, I have worked
within the Republican Party. I've been a candidate, held leadership
positions in the party, and given generously of my time and money.

I have had many arguments with my gay friends defending the GOP and certain
elected Republicans. I have had many friends and mentors who have all been
valuable parts of my life. It's tough to walk away from something that I
have been so much a part of. But knowing my president wants to officially
sanction discrimination against me, I cannot in good conscience remain a
Republican.

It was bad enough that my Republican friends in the Ohio legislature, people
who know me (and know better) and whom I've vigorously supported, voted for
a divisive, unnecessary, and discriminatory so-called defense of marriage
bill-despite my best lobbying efforts. I now have the president, the leader
of the party and the free world, telling me we must sanction this type of
discrimination in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Quite frankly, I'm sick over it. It is an insult to me as a lifelong
Republican and it does nothing to strengthen marriage. It is an obviously
political move that will do nothing but divide the nation even further. So
much for Mr. Bush being a uniter. I can think of no other time in our
country's history when the president has sought to so directly limit the
rights of a group of Americans. This is not a true conservative value; it is
that of the radical right.

I realize that many Americans may not support or even understand same-sex
marriage, and that's fine with me. But amending the Constitution for this
purpose is morally wrong. I think most Americans will find this disturbing
as well, and it will ultimately cost Bush votes. I know I'll do my part to
work against the president and any elected official who ultimately supports
this attack on civil rights.

The party has been overtaken, both nationally and in Ohio, by hard-right
social conservatives that seem hell-bent on moving the country in reverse on
civil rights, seemingly at the expense of more important issues such as
fiscal responsibility. At one time in history, the Republican Party was a
leader in civil rights-that Republican Party no longer exists. I always felt
it was important to remain active and fight such blatant attempts at
discrimination, but that effort is obviously futile.

I will still count many Republican as friends, and the response I have
received from many of them shows they understand this very difficult,
personal decision. In fact, one elected Republican official told me the GOP
has left me. On Tuesday, March 2, I will pick up a Democratic ballot in the
Ohio primary (and vote for John Edwards) and begin a new chapter of
political activism in my life.

http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/909/909_norepublican.asp

First, his home state passed one of the nation's most restrictive laws
outlawing same-sex marriage and many domestic-partner benefits. Then the
President announced his support for writing discrimination into the U.S.
Constitution. This Ohio gay activist has had enough and this week
relinquished his duties as a longtime member of the Republican Party of
Cuyahoga County.

Why I'm quitting the Republican Party
by John Farina
February 27, 2004

It's finally come to this: I can't be a Republican anymore.

This was an extremely difficult decision for me to reach. I've been a
Republican all my life. But February 24 at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, the
president changed things for me.
For the past 20 years, even before I was registered to vote, I have worked
within the Republican Party. I've been a candidate, held leadership
positions in the party, and given generously of my time and money.

I have had many arguments with my gay friends defending the GOP and

elected Republicans. I have had many friends and mentors who have all been
valuable parts of my life. It's tough to walk away from something that I
have been so much a part of. But knowing my president wants to officially
sanction discrimination against me, I cannot in good conscience remain a
Republican.

It was bad enough that my Republican friends in the Ohio legislature,

who know me (and know better) and whom I've vigorously supported, voted

a divisive, unnecessary, and discriminatory so-called defense of marriage
bill-despite my best lobbying efforts. I now have the president, the

of the party and the free world, telling me we must sanction this type of
discrimination in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Quite frankly, I'm sick over it. It is an insult to me as a lifelong
Republican and it does nothing to strengthen marriage. It is an obviously
political move that will do nothing but divide the nation even further. So
much for Mr. Bush being a uniter. I can think of no other time in our
country's history when the president has sought to so directly limit the
rights of a group of Americans. This is not a true conservative value; it

that of the radical right.

I realize that many Americans may not support or even understand same-sex
marriage, and that's fine with me. But amending the Constitution for this
purpose is morally wrong. I think most Americans will find this disturbing
as well, and it will ultimately cost Bush votes. I know I'll do my part to
work against the president and any elected official who ultimately

this attack on civil rights.

The party has been overtaken, both nationally and in Ohio, by hard-right
social conservatives that seem hell-bent on moving the country in reverse

civil rights, seemingly at the expense of more important issues such as
fiscal responsibility. At one time in history, the Republican Party was a
leader in civil rights-that Republican Party no longer exists. I always

it was important to remain active and fight such blatant attempts at
discrimination, but that effort is obviously futile.

I will still count many Republican as friends, and the response I have
received from many of them shows they understand this very difficult,
personal decision. In fact, one elected Republican official told me the

has left me. On Tuesday, March 2, I will pick up a Democratic ballot in

Ohio primary (and vote for John Edwards) and begin a new chapter of
political activism in my life.

--
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http://www.gentlemanjim.net/
"It aint what you don't know that'll hurt ya, it's what you "know" that

so." -- Will Rogers