The boys are back in town: Gay GOPers partying this weekend in San Diego

The Log Cabin Republicans opened their annual convention in San Diego Thursday and unlike how they sat out the ‘04 cycle, the GOP’s gay wing intends to endorse this weekend.

“The last presidential cycle, we had to make a tough decision and withhold our endorsement of the president,” said Log Cabin national vice chairman Terry Hamilton of Los Angeles. “We certainly don’t expect to do that this endorsement cycle. I think John McCain is open to listening and open to inclusion.”

The 20,000 member gay-and-lesbian group is expecting about 225 people for the four-day gathering at San Diego’s Town & Country Resort, with the event’s most serious activities on Friday. President Bush’s former U.N. ambassador John Bolton speaks at the Friday luncheon with San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis welcoming attendees then as well. McCain’s ex-senior advisor Terry Nelson will give a Friday morning what’s-ahead-for-‘08 lecture.

Hamilton said a town hall meeting is set for later Friday with members discussing and most likely finalizing a formal McCain endorsement. “I think we have a pretty good idea of where he stands on everything,” he said. “We’re going to reach out to areas that the Republican Party needs to reach out to. John McCain is suited for that as well.”

Log Cabin folk were not fans of ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his unsuccessful attempt to become a Christian voter bloc darling via supposedly newfound zealotry against gay marriage and other social conservative red flags. They created an anti-Romney ad last year (it’s still on YouTube at). So with no love lost there the gay Republicans have little stomach for whispers of a possible McCain-Romney ticket.

“I think our stand was pretty clear with Mitt Romney, he was not the type of candidate that we were enthusiastic about,” Hamilton said.

While Romney may not be a Log Cabin favorite, Hamilton added that GOP lesbians are most welcome; “We’d always like to have more women but I would say it’s mostly men.”

The convention has scheduled two screenings of the Christians-on-homosexuality documentary, “For The Bible Tells Me So,” plus Saturday lectures on HIV/AIDS, science and sexual orientation and the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. And of course there’s a Friday martini soiree.