WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the executive director of the nation’s largest LGBT conservative political group announced his organization’s participation in this year’s party platform drafting process. R. Clarke Cooper of Log Cabin Republicans said that members from his organization will be credentialed attendees at the Republican National Convention (RNC) Platform Committee meeting on August 20. The committee will meet just prior to the start of the party’s quadrennial national convention in Tampa.

Cooper said that the GOP’s 2008 platform contained language that was divisive, and specifically targeted the LGBT community. “Just looking at the 2008 [platform], Log Cabin has gone through and we’ve noted language in there that’s either directly unhelpful, or seen as anti-gay, and have marked it for deletion,” he said. In a section titled, “Preserving Traditional Marriage,” the 2008 platform endorses the federal Defense of Marriage Act, and supports the passage of same-sex marriage bans through state referendums.

Log Cabin Republicans plan to host a number of events during the week of the RNC, including an Aug. 26 welcome reception, a meet-and-greet with the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund for openly-gay Republican candidates on Aug. 27, a brunch for “Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry” on Aug. 29, and a press event to honor congressional Republican allies of the gay community, on Aug. 30. Another LGBT conservative group, GOProud, will host its annual “Homocon” party on Aug. 28, at The Honey Pot in Ybor City.