Inclusion Wins!

Last night was a significant step toward a full repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The House and the Senate Armed Service Committee both voted to repeal the policy yesterday. Although the vote was mostly Democrats, a few Republicans stood up and cast their votes for equality. Representatives Biggert (R – IL), Cao (R – LA), Djou (R-HI), Ron Paul (R – TX), and Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) were the Republicans in Congress that voted on the right side of history. Senator Susan Collins of Maine was the one Republican vote on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Log Cabin Republicans are thankful for these members of Congress and look forward to working with them again. Unfortunately, there were no votes from Kansas and very few from the Republican Party. But working within the party is the reason I am here and the work that the Log Cabin does is especially important. We worked and strived to get these votes and will continue to work to get more in the future.

It’s been a great week with a lot of exciting and interesting things going on. We worked extremely hard in the office this week, meetings on The Hill, reaching out to members, and attending events. I am overjoyed at the vote with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and am pleased with the Republicans that voted for repeal. I hope that the process continues to move forward with support for both sides. That goes to show that having conversations and actual facts for Congress members is more influential than waving signs or protesting. No offense to those that take part in that type of activism but that simply is not how you get your message heard and more importantly voted on.

Everything will be fine in the end, if it's not fine, it's not the end."
This is a quote I often say to myself in my daily life. Before receiving the internship with Log Cabin Republicans, I received several denies from other places and congressman. Yet after this week, I am more than pleased to be in the Log Cabin office. I have the pleasure of actually working for something I believe in. Instead of giving tours of the Capitol to constituents, I work on actual issues and am truly learning the strategies of successful lobbying. Log Cabin is also an amazing organization in that, we take on the job that everyone else has given up. Other GLBT advocate groups are simply ignoring meetings with the Republican side of the aisle and considering Republicans a lost party. Many of the members of Congress have actually never been approached by advocacy groups and have been failed to be educated then. Log Cabin fills that gap and works within the party to ensure equality.

This week was also great for famous receptions and banquets. I have shared a beer with Senator Scott Brown to pee next to Minority Leader Boehner to meeting the newest Congressman Djou.

On Tuesday Christian invited me to attend a fundraising reception at a local pub for Charlie Baker who is running for Governor of Massachusetts. Scott Brown, the centerfold, gave the welcome and then walked around the room meeting people. Wilma Goldstein, a past fellow at the Dole Institute at KU, was there and we chatted for a while. She is an amazing woman and I was excited to see her there. After the event, I ran home to change and head to Nellie's Sport Bar for a Lady Gaga party. They were showing the Glee episode that focused on Gaga. There were fun drinks and a lot of "gleeks." I am just getting into the show, thanks to my Lawrence roommates, but had a fabulous time anyways. Scott Brown to Lady Gaga, interesting switch.

Wednesday I went to a reception at the glorious Capitol Hill Club, a Club exclusive to the Republican Party and invite only. There was a Young Gun reception for Republicans around the country running for Congress. The members were introduced and then went around the room meeting the various people and lobbyists. The club was beautiful, like everything Republican is, and all of the candidates were very outgoing and exciting. I wish them the best of luck and hopefully a few seek our endorsement so we can have a Republican majority again in Congress!

After the Young Gun reception we headed to another event at the Capitol Hill Club for Charles Djou, the newly elected special election candidate from Hawaii, Obama's old home territory now led by a Republican! Log Cabin was one of Djou's first endorsements and he has stuck with us through his vote for repeal this week. He was just sworn in on Tuesday. The reception was excellent and many powerful Republicans were present and spoke. Minority Leader Boehner was there, so tan, and he gave a speech praising the Republican Party and Djou. We spoke for a bit, as we used the restroom beside each other. I was able to meet several people from the RNC as well, and one of the ladies invited me to go to a Happy Hour with the National College Republicans down the street after the Djou event.

At the CR Happy Hour were several other interns that were working with Republicans and around town, so I finally met others in my rank. After a couple of drinks and meeting several people I headed home and decided to try line dancing at a bar close to my house. When I think of line dancing, I think country western and boots and my dad. But this bar was far from. This was gays line dancing to techno and Beyonce! It was pretty great. I joined in on one of the lessons and learned a salsa Latin type dance. Oh, I am so diverse! Watch out Patty, I can shake it like a Latina now.

It was an amazing eventful day that ended perfectly. What a city! I can be at a prestigious political club one hour and the next be salsaing drinking margaritas.

Thursday we worked all day to get last votes for the repeal and were happy to celebrate later that evening. I am helping Log Cabin out with our involvement in the Pride festival as one of my tasks and the Capitol Pride committee had a meeting on Thursday so I went to that. Naturally being led by gays, the meeting was at a bar with drinks. I met a couple other festival people and am excited for the two weeks of events that starts this weekend. After the "meeting" I met up with Christian and Clark, from Log Cabin, at an event at the famous Hilton Hotel, where Reagan was shot. There was an outdoor event celebrating the kickoff to Pride. We had a couple of drinks to celebrate our win towards repeal and had a fabulous evening.

This has been an outstanding week and I am beginning to assimilate into the DC life. I still do though avoid the crazy lady by our office that I believe is casting spells at the business folk. I am missing my friends like crazy, especially with the release of Sex and the City 2! I wish everyone well and continue being fabulous and thanks for reading about me!

Lesson Learned: Never assume a vote in politics i.e. Ron Paul voting for repeal (Remember him in Bruno?)