Gay Republican group endorses candidate who supports anti-LGBT ‘freedom to discriminate’ law

A gay Republican group has thrown its support behind a candidate who supports ‘freedom to discriminate’ legislation.

The Log Cabin Republicans group claims to advocate for the acceptance of gay people within the Republican Party – though critics question its track record, given the party’s lack of progress on LGBT rights.

The Georgia branch this week threw its support behind Brian Kemp, the Republican nominee for Governor of Georgia in November’s Gubernatorial election.

The group said: “We offer him our full endorsement and look forward to working hard to help him win in November against radical liberal Stacey Abrams.”

Brian Kemp addresses the audience during an election watch party on July 24, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. (Jessica McGowan/Getty)

The decision has been strongly criticised because Kemp continues to support ‘freedom to discriminate’ laws that would actively permit faith-based discrimination against LGBT people.

Kemp has explicitly signed a pledge vowing to sign such a state-level law, saying: “If elected Governor, I will actively support the Legislature in its efforts to pass an uncompromised, state-level [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] that mirrors the federal RFRA. I will sign such a bill if it passes, protecting First Amendment rights, particularly the Free Exercise of Religion.”

The proposed law mirrors one signed by Vice President Mike Pence when he was Governor of Indiana in 2015, plunging the state into chaos as it faced boycotts over the decision to permit anti-LGBT discrimination.

Kemp confirmed this week to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “My position on RFRA is not going to change. I’m not going to change.

“It’s the commonsense thing to do, and I will do that as governor. And I’ll be glad to sit down with any business entity in the state and talk them through that.”

Brian Kemp addresses the audience during an election watch party on July 24, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. (Jessica McGowan/Getty)