New York City -
Following Vice President Dick Cheney's acceptance speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention his family joined him on stage -- everyone except lesbian daughter Mary Cheney.
Cheney sat in the audience with her partner and the rest of the Cheney clan during the speech.
When the Vice President concluded a tough speech that hammered away at Democratic candidate John Kerry's positions on Iraq and terrorism Mary Cheney and partner had disappeared from the hall.
Her noticeable absence raised eyebrows among gay Republicans and led gay parents group PFLAG Thursday to ask what happened.
"Were the convention organizers worried that her presence would reinforce what the Vice President stated last week -- that he opposes the President's call for a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and loves and supports his daughter as she is?" PFLAG asks in a news release.
"PFLAG moms and dads were moved by Dick Cheney's words of pride for Mary and her basic rights to equal freedoms in America. That made her conspicuous absence from last night's celebration especially disheartening," said Sam Thoron, PFLAG's president and father of a lesbian daughter.
During a campaign stop in Davenport, Iowa, Cheney said that same-sex marriage should be left to the states, adding that he did not believe a proposed amendment to the US Constitution was necessary.
"Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue our family is very familiar with. Cheney said.
"Freedom means freedom for everyone," the Vice President said.
"Sadly, the message last night was that Mary was not welcome to share the stage with her straight sister," said Ron Schlittler, executive director of PFLAG. "It was a missed opportunity by Lynn and Dick Cheney to show the country a family in all its diversity, sharing an exciting moment together."
The absence on stage of Mary Cheney followed a series of attacks on her and the Vice President by Illinois Republican Alan Keyes. The Senate hopeful called Mary a "sinner" and a a "selfish hedonist." (story)
A spokesperson for the Bush Cheney campaign declined comment on Mary Cheney's whereabouts following her father's speech.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
Cheney sat in the audience with her partner and the rest of the Cheney clan during the speech.
When the Vice President concluded a tough speech that hammered away at Democratic candidate John Kerry's positions on Iraq and terrorism Mary Cheney and partner had disappeared from the hall.
Her noticeable absence raised eyebrows among gay Republicans and led gay parents group PFLAG Thursday to ask what happened.
"Were the convention organizers worried that her presence would reinforce what the Vice President stated last week -- that he opposes the President's call for a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and loves and supports his daughter as she is?" PFLAG asks in a news release.
"PFLAG moms and dads were moved by Dick Cheney's words of pride for Mary and her basic rights to equal freedoms in America. That made her conspicuous absence from last night's celebration especially disheartening," said Sam Thoron, PFLAG's president and father of a lesbian daughter.
During a campaign stop in Davenport, Iowa, Cheney said that same-sex marriage should be left to the states, adding that he did not believe a proposed amendment to the US Constitution was necessary.
"Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue our family is very familiar with. Cheney said.
"Freedom means freedom for everyone," the Vice President said.
"Sadly, the message last night was that Mary was not welcome to share the stage with her straight sister," said Ron Schlittler, executive director of PFLAG. "It was a missed opportunity by Lynn and Dick Cheney to show the country a family in all its diversity, sharing an exciting moment together."
The absence on stage of Mary Cheney followed a series of attacks on her and the Vice President by Illinois Republican Alan Keyes. The Senate hopeful called Mary a "sinner" and a a "selfish hedonist." (story)
A spokesperson for the Bush Cheney campaign declined comment on Mary Cheney's whereabouts following her father's speech.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
