HRC Votes To Back Gay Marriage Bill

The Harvard Republican Club (HRC) decided Wednesday night to maintain its support for the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), a part of the Republican-party platform that would ban the possibility of gay marriage.

Last month two members of the club drafted a proposal calling for the club to remain neutral on the divisive issue. According to the HRC’s constitution, the club adopts positions consistent with the national Republican Party platform unless the executive board votes otherwise.

After a 90-minute meeting Wednesday night, the HRC executive board decided against the proposal in a 5-2 vote. A straw poll that was conducted among general board members revealed that the larger group was more closely divided.

“I would have preferred it if the resolution was passed, but we have a process and that process has spoken,” said Annie M. Lewis ’07, co-author of the resolution.

HRC spokeswoman Lauren K. Truesdell ’06 declined to comment on the reasoning behind the vote, citing the confidentiality of the meeting.

Joshua A. Barro ’05, who also co-wrote the proposal, said that he appreciated the support of the members who backed him. “I think our proposal was the right thing to do, and I’m glad we pushed it,” he said.

Both Barro and Lewis said they were disappointed but would continue to support the club.

HRC member Julia E. Cassis ’06 wrote in an e-mail that she was disappointed but not surprised with the outcome.

“I believe deciding to stick to supporting FMA is a slap in the face to our gay members and their supporters,” she wrote. “I understand that our club policy is to support the president and promote his re-election, but I don’t think that should require our club to publicly support his every initiative.”

Samuel M. Simon ’06, spokesman for the Harvard College Democrats, was critical of HRC’s decision and said the vote showed they were “out of touch with the student body and young people in general.”

“It would have been a really good opportunity for HRC to take a stand and show that it is separate from the conservative and bigoted national government,” he said.

Public relations chair of the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) Michael A. Feldstein ’07 said he was disappointed with the vote as well.

“Support for the FMA has no place in a group that purports to be tolerant,” he said.

But Lewis said she is still optimistic about the club’s future. “It was a heartening experience,” Lewis said. “It opened dialogue and was constructive for the club to do.”

—Staff writer Monica M. Clark can be reached at mclark@fas.harvard.edu.