Log Cabin Republicans Endorse Donald Trump for Reelection

The Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed President Trump's reelection efforts, citing promises to the LGBTQ community that have actually not been fulfilled.

"Since taking office, President Trump has followed through on many of his commitments to the United States, including taking bold actions that benefit the LGBTQ community," wrote Robert Kabel, Log Cabin Republicans chairman, in an op-ed published by The Washington Post.

The decision marked a sharp turn for the organization, which in 2016 declined to support Trump's White House bid.

The organization at the time praised Trump as "perhaps the most pro-LGBT presidential nominee in the history of the Republican Party," but withheld an endorsement because of then-candidate Trump showed inconsistency.

A list of judges he promised to draw from for court positions included many with anti-LGBTQ records, and of course, he chose Mike Pence, a politician with an anti-equality record as governor of Indiana and as a member of Congress, as his running mate.

Fast-forward three years, and Trump has appointed some of the judges to the Supreme Court, continued to keep Mike Pence at his side and made some explicitly anti-LGBTQ moves like banning trans troops from service and stripping Obama-era protection for trans youth in schools.

Why the turnaround for Log Cabin Republicans? Kabel wrote that the organization, still the most prominent right-leaning LGBTQ group in America, recognizes other strides that are more important long-term. Those include a commitment to end the HIV crisis in 10 years.

Kabel also noted a push to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide.

"To lead this effort, the president has chosen the highest-ranking LGBTQ individual in the administration, Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany, who brings his experience as the United States' spokesman at the United Nations to bear on this critical campaign," Kabel wrote.

However, no explicit plans for accomplishing this have been unveiled and Trump remained virtually silent on recent antigay controversies revolving around the sultan of Brunei.

Beyond that, the group reiterated support for conservative positions outside LGBTQ issues, including support for tax cuts and strong national defense.

Kabel acknowledged disappointments like to trans military ban, but said on balance, the group has been pleased with Trump.

"To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, 80 percent my friend is not 20 percent my enemy," he wrote.