Log Cabin Republicans (LCR)

Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) is a constituency organization that represents LGBT conservatives who support freedom, fairness, and equality for all Americans. LCR uses advocacy, engagement, and thought leadership to support LGBT issues and traditional conservative values from within the Republican Party. 1

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(4)
Issue Areas: LGBT Policy
Website:

logcabin.org

Location:

Washington, DC

Tax-ID:

52-1811081

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Formation 1993:

1993

Board Chair:

Daniel Innis

Contents

    The Log Cabin Institute (formerly called the Liberty Education Forum) is the educational and research arm of Log Cabin Republicans. 2 Log Cabin Republicans PAC is LCR’s affiliated political action committee. 1

    Activities

    Log Cabin Republicans supports the traditional conservative values of limited government, strong national defense, free markets, low taxes, personal responsibility, and individual liberty. LCR also supports all Americans’ right to equality, especially as it concerns LGBT Americans, claiming that opposition to LGBT equality goes against the Republican Party’s core principles of personal freedom and small government. 1

    Log Cabin Republicans is a Washington, D.C.-based organization with state and local chapters across the country. LCR began in California in the late 1970s when gay and lesbian Republicans organized to defeat 1978’s California Proposition 6, the Ban on Lesbian and Gay Teachers Initiative, familiarly known as the Briggs Initiative. 1 The California Proposition was defeated by a “no” vote of more than 3.9 million or 58.43 percent of the vote after former Governor Ronald Reagan (R) opposed the initiative. 3 4

    Log Cabin Republicans continues to advocate for fairness, hope, and freedom, and against discrimination, fear, and oppression within the Republican Party. 1 LCR endorses Republican U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives candidates who commit to ensuring equality under the law for LGBT Americans. 5

    Funding

    Log Cabin Republicans is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While Log Cabin Republicans does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm a 2020 donation from America First Works ($1.1 million). 6

    Board of Directors

    Daniel E. Innis is the chair of the board of Log Cabin Republicans, a professor of marketing and hospitality management at the University of New Hampshire, and a Republican member of the New Hampshire State Senate. Innis also sits on the board of the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority. 7

    Jill Homan is the vice-chair of the board of LCR and the Republican national committeewoman for Washington, D.C. Homan sits on the executive committee of the Republican National Committee and the board of the League of Republican Women of DC. Homan formerly sat on the site selection committee for the 2016 and 2020 Republican National Conventions. 8

    Keith Schaefer is the secretary of the board of LCR and sits on the boards of Connected Energy, City Paper Box, Interphase Materials, Stay Pittsburgh, and Cap/Rock Partners. Schaefer formerly worked as the president and CEO of Paramount’s Technology Group and president of the NEC Corporation. Schaefer is a former member of the board of governors of the Frances Hesselbein Global Leadership Institute. 8

    Kevin Leader is the treasurer of the board of LCR. 8

    Skyler Akins sits on the board of the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans and is the executive vice president of the Atlanta Young Republicans. Akins formerly worked as a senior auditor in the Atlanta City Auditor’s Office. 8

    Maritza Bolano is a New York-based attorney. 9

    Matthew Craffey is the chair of Log Cabin Republicans of California and former president of Log Cabin Republicans of Los Angeles. 8

    Brett Dinkins is the Missouri state director of Victory Enterprises, a political consulting firm. 10

    Derek Dufresne is a partner at Ascent Strategic and chief strategist and general consultant to U.S. Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL). Dufresne sits on the boards of the Young Republican National Federation and the Manchester Republican City Committee. 11

    Stephen Gale is the chair of the board of LCR and a member of the board of the Liberty Education Forum. 8

    Mike Siudym is a co-president of Log Cabin Republicans of New York City. 12

    Richard Tisei is a senior policy advisor at Preti Strategies. Tisei is a former Republican member of the Massachusetts state legislature. 13

    Terry Hamilton is a chair emeritus of the board of LCR. Hamilton is a former president of Log Cabin Republicans of Los Angeles and former chair of Log Cabin Republicans of California. 8

    Leonard Olds is a chair emeritus of the board of LCR, co-founder of both the Orange County California and Riverside County Chapters of Log Cabin Republicans, and member of the board of the Liberty Education Forum (now called the Log Cabin Institute). Olds is a former appointee to the California Council for the Humanities under then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). 8

    Frank Ricchiazzi is a founding member and director emeritus of LCR. 8

    Ed Williams is the executive director of LCR and president of Log Cabin Republicans of Nevada. Williams is a member of the Nevada Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and an elected representative of the Clark County and Nevada Republican Central Committees. Williams is a former chair of the Clark County Republican Party. 8

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    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “About Us.” Log Cabin Republicans. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://logcabin.org/about-us/.
    2. “About.” Log Cabin Institute. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://logcabininstitute.org/about/.
    3. “California Proposition 6, Ban on Lesbian and Gay Teachers Initiative (1978).” Ballotpedia. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_6,_Ban_on_Lesbian_and_Gay_Teachers_Initiative_(1978).   
    4. “Primary Source Set: Briggs Initiative.” GLBT Historical Society. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://www.glbthistory.org/primary-source-set-briggs-initiative.
    5. “2024 Endorsed Candidates.” Log Cabin Republicans. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://logcabin.org/2024-endorsed-candidates/.
    6. America First Works, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule I, Part II.
    7. “Daniel Innis, Ph.D.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daninnis/.
    8. “LCR Leadership.” Log Cabin Republicans. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://logcabin.org/about-us/leadership/.
    9. “About Us.” Law Office of Maritza F. Bolano. Accessed June 28, 2025. http://www.mfbai.com/About-Us.html.
    10. “Brett Dinkins.” Victory Enterprises. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.victoryenterprises.com/teams/brett-dinkins/.
    11. “Derek Dufresne.” Ascent Strategic. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://ascent-strategic.com/about/derek-dufresne/.
    12. “Log Cabin Republicans of New York City.” Log Cabin Republicans. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://logcabin.org/chapters/log-cabin-republicans-of-new-york-city/.
    13. “Richard Tisei.” Preti Strategies. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.pretistrategies.com/richard-tisei.