Republic Party officials denied gay presidential candidate Fred Karger’s request to participate in the upcoming California GOP Convention. The Orange County native is the only gay candidate in the presidential race – a fact that may lend to party officials’ decision to exclude Karger from the event.
In a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Karger explained that the GOP failed to send him an invitation, and refused to return his calls requesting attendance to the convention. Party officials did eventually respond to his inquiries, according to Karger, leaving a “terse” message that stated, “The schedule is completely filled.”
Karger’s campaign spokesman, Keven Miniter, also spoke of the GOP’s blatant attempts to shut out the gay candidate. “We can always look at it as homophobia, but what’s frustrating is when people don’t even return phone calls,” Miniter said. He noted that there have been other incidents in which the party gave Karger the “cold shoulder,” citing a recent political action conference to which Karger was barred access.
Despite the GOP’s attitude toward Karger, the Chronicle reports that he does not intend to go quietly. “I would be very disappointed if the California Republican Party is trying to exclude me,” Karger said. “I will continue to try. I’ve thought long and hard about it…”
He added, “[Sometimes] it was a lot easier when I was in the closet.”
