Some gay rights advocates say the GOP is a decade behind the Democratic Party in acting on gay concerns. Bush opposes such rights and laws that would set tougher penalties for crimes motivated by bias against gay men and lesbians. Even so, some social conservatives are frustrated. Increasingly, we're seeing gestures from the president that are strikingly inconsistent with his repeated assertions that he stands for marriage and the family. He appoints the best person for the job.
Some gay activists view that emotional meeting as a turning point.
Bush considers himself a born-again Christian and is at odds with gay activists on many issues. But from the time he put Mary Cheney on his campaign payroll and Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe on the convention podium to the appointment of Evertz, gay Republicans say Bush has lived up to his commitment to judge them as individuals. Many gay people were disappointed at Bush's choice of Attorney General John Ashcroft, a religious conservative who fought gay causes and nominees when he was in the Senate. But they are encouraged by other appointments, including Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Rod Paige. All have worked with gay activists.