Full text of Romney's 1994 gay rights letter surfaces

Beyond his endorsement of gay rights back in 1994, Governor Mitt Romney's recently unearthed letter and interviews from that era show that he was making a political case for Republicans to back gay and lebisan causes.

In his 1994 letter to Log Cabin Republicans, posted here, Romney wrote of making "equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern.'' The letter, the subject of stories in the Globe and the New York Times and much blog chatter, was posted on the Bay Windows website over the weekend.

"As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever that as we seek to establish full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent,'' Romney wrote, referring to US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

"If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will,'' Romney wrote.

In an interview with Bay Windows the same year, Romney made a similar political argument: “I think the gay community needs more support from the Republican Party and I would be a voice in the Republican Party to foster anti-discrimination efforts.''

In the interview, Romney was quoted saying that when Kennedy speaks on gay rights, he's viewed as a liberal "extremist." But Romney said when he speaks about gay rights he's seen as "a centrist and a moderate."

Romney was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans in his 2002 race for governor. But the group declined to endorse his would-be successor, Kerry Healey, this year, complaining that he had used his office to rally against gay marriage.

Since at least as far back as 2004, Romney has spoken out repeatedly for a federal amendment to ban gay marriage. But he occassionally has softened his tone, as he did before a Michigan audience in 2005.

''Americans respect all people. We also recognize that there are many settings where children are raised," Romney said in Livonia, Mich., citing grandparents and same-sex couples as examples. ''But we choose to recognize one setting as the ideal."

Among bloggers, Kathleen Lopez downplays the recent Romney disclosures. Andrew Sullivan asks "Was he lying then or is he lying now? What does he really believe?'' On AmericaBlog, a poster says: "This almost as fun as Mary Cheney pregnant.'' And Town Hall's Dean Barnett offers a bit of explanation here.