Log Cabin Reps keep Winburn at arm's length

The question, which came towards the end of Tuesday night's mayoral debate on WCET, was about diversity.

And while the questioner didn't ask Republican mayoral candidate Charlie Winburn specifically about gays and lesbians, Winburn made a point of saying he would include them in his administration if elected in November.

Winburn has made that promise repeatedly in recent weeks. But when Cincinnati Log Cabin Republican President Ted Jackson heard it Tuesday night, he quickly dashed off a post-debate statement pointing out Winburn's "history of anti-gay activism."

After all, isn't this the same Charlie Winburn who was behind Article XII of the city charter, which barred City Council from passing a gay-rights law from 1993 to 2004? And wasn't he a $3,125-a-month paid consultant to the Equal Rights Not Special Rights Committee, which fought to keep the charter amendment in last year's repeal campaign?

"Article XII sent a message that gay people aren't welcome in Cincinnati, and to say that gay people are going to be included in city government seems to be a contradiction in terms," said Jackson, who served as field director on the repeal campaign. "We can see what he's trying to do. Republican neighborhoods voted for the repeal. He's trying to court those Republicans and piggyback on our work."

Winburn said he stands by his promise. "He doesn't know my heart and he doesn't know my sensitivity when I was on City Council," he said of Jackson. "I said what I said last night, and I don't have anything else to say."

The Log Cabin Republicans say they won't endorse Winburn for mayor, but will make endorsements from among the GOP council candidates next week.

(Photo courtesy the Winburn campaign.)