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Live Chat: Jim Kolbe

ByABC News
July 26, 2000, 2:44 PM

Aug. 1 -- Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona is about to make history. When he takes the stage in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, he will become the first openly gay congressman to address a Republican convention.

Kolbe, the most senior gay member of Congress, is a founding member of the National Advisory Board of the Log Cabin Republicans, the country's largest gay and lesbian Republican organization. Kolbe acknowledged his homosexuality publicly in 1996, shortly before supporting the Defense of Marriage Act, a measure that denies federal recognition of marriages between gay and lesbian couples.

While Kolbe's voting record falls squarely within the bounds of party policy, his role in the convention and the political efforts of gay Republican groups in general doesn't sit well with some socially conservative GOP members, one of whom told ABCNEWS, "I think it is a really bad decision." But although George W. Bush opposes many issues on the Log Cabin Republicans' agenda, including gay marriage, he has declared, "I welcome gay Americans into my campaign."

Kolbe joined us following his appearance on Political Points to talk about his role in the convention and the role of gays and lesbians in the Republican party. Look below for a transcript of the live chat.

Moderator at 1:53pm ET

Rep. Jim Kolbe joins us live from our RNC studio in Philadelphia. Thank you for joining us. Congressman Kolbe, what will be the focus of your speech tonight?

Rep. Jim Kolbe at 1:53pm ET

The focus of this evening's speech will be trade. I've worked very closely on trade issues for 15 years in Congress, and I will talk about trade as a sub-theme of tonight's national defense and national security theme.

Moderator at 1:54pm ET

Lee in our audience writes: Last night, Colin Powell spoke on how important it is for the Republican Party to include members from all groups. Do you feel his comments extend beyond racial groups to include gays and lesbians?

Rep. Jim Kolbe at 1:54pm ET