The Most Powerful Gay Republican in History

Well, it's official. Ken Mehlman, the former architect of the Bush/Cheney '04 re-election campaign, has come out of the closet as a gay man.

We noted earlier that rumors were flying about Mehlman's sexual orientation. And truthfully, they've been flying for years, though Mehlman himself has never publicly acknowledged his sexual orientation, often issuing denials, including an infamous line in 2006 that suggested all the gay rumors were hurting his straight dating life.

But now Mehlman is ready to talk, and he wants folks to know that his personal journey has been long and arduous, and that he hopes there's room within the LGBT movement for him to lend a voice, particularly on the issue of marriage equality.

"It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life," said Mehlman, according to The Atlantic. "Everybody has their own path to travel, their own journey, and for me, over the past few months, I've told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and supportive. The process has been something that's made me a happier and better person. It's something I wish I had done years ago."

Perhaps one has to wonder if former colleague President George W. Bush, who wanted to ban gay marriage via a constitutional amendment, is one of those "wonderful and supportive" folks that Mehlman is referencing.

The Atlantic story goes on to note that Mehlman is the most powerful Republican figure in history to identify as gay. And barring confirmation someday that Abraham Lincoln was really gay, they're probably right. After all, this is a man who not only led a successful Presidential campaign, but one who was a talking head nearly every day of the week during 2003 and 2004.

Of course, during this time, Mehlman was also at the epicenter of a push by the Republican Party to put up anti-gay ballot measures in state after state, as well as kill pieces of legislation that would have significantly benefited LGBT Americans. For all of that, Mehlman offers a bit of forgiveness.

"I wish I was where I am today 20 years ago. The process of not being able to say who I am in public life was very difficult. No one else knew this except me. My family didn't know. My friends didn't know. Anyone who watched me knew I was a guy who was clearly uncomfortable with the topic," Mehlman said.

In the past year, it looks like Mehlman has also lent his voice to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group pushing forward with the federal lawsuit challenging same-sex marriage bans like Proposition 8. Chad Griffin, the head of AFER, said that Mehlman's contributions to the group have been noteworthy.

"When we achieve equal equality, he will be one of the people to thank for it," Griffin told The Atlantic.

Well, here's hoping. Because in many a state with a ban on gay marriage, Mehlman is one of the people to blame.

Photo credit: WayneBesen.com