Gays welcome at GOP convention, in contrast to 1996

PHILADELPHIA - Brian Bennett, a conservative Southern California Catholic who also is gay, thinks the Republican Party still is in the ''Stone Age'' when it comes to gay rights, but believes George W. Bush gives GOP homosexuals hope for the future.

Bennett was among a dozen gay Republicans who met with Bush at his Austin campaign headquarters in April. Bennett described for Bush how his black partner felt the party generally was discriminatory, and Bush seemed genuinely interested.

''I came out of the meeting feeling like we should be part of this party,'' said Bennett, a convention delegate.

Bush, who emerged from the meeting saying he was ''a better person'' for it, has made inclusion a key theme of his campaign. For gays, that has meant a larger - albeit still small - role at the convention.

This year, 18 delegates and alternates are openly gay, compared to five in 1996, according to Kevin Ivers, spokesman for the national gay group Log Cabin Republicans.

An openly gay lawmaker, Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona, is scheduled to give a speech on international trade on Tuesday night. No openly gay lawmaker has addressed a GOP convention before.

''Once that happens and the sky doesn't fall, it'll happen again in the future,'' said Jeff Bissiri, an alternate delegate who also is president of Log Cabin's Los Angeles chapter.

Still, the party isn't embracing gays. The GOP platform says homosexuality is incompatible with military service, offers no special legal protection based on sexual preference and opposes recognition of gay marriages.

Bennett, who was chief of staff to former Rep. Robert Dornan, R-Calif., said the path to greater political acceptance has pitfalls.

''I believe our party is in the Stone Age with regard to gay rights,'' Bennett said. ''I believe many party officials are aware of it, but they need a little encouragement from the top. I think George Bush is the man to give them that encouragement.''

Glenn Good, a gay delegate and member of Illinois Gov. George Ryan's cabinet as assistant director of central management services, agreed Bush seems to be a departure from previous GOP leaders.

''I'm very impressed with where he's come in three months,'' Good said. ''The hard work is paying off. Change happens slowly.''

Four years ago, the Log Cabin Republicans held a parallel convention in San Diego to call for greater tolerance and acceptance of same-sex marriages. In 1992, Patrick Buchanan addressed the Republican National Convention and criticized homosexuals.

Dan Stewart, a delegate and mayor of Plattsburgh, N.Y., said he was horrified as he watched that speech on television and is pleased by progress in the GOP since then.

''I think the Republican Party is slowly turning itself in a more moderate direction, speaking to middle America,'' he said. ''This presidential campaign is going to be a close one and George Bush is going to have to speak to all America.''