Retiring Gay Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe

The 106th congressional session (2006) will be the last for openly-gay Republican Jim Kolbe, a 20 year veteran of the House. His exit is anything but quiet given the current heat surrounding gay marriage (of which he opposes in favor of lesser civil unions); his ignored whistle blow on Foley; and a federal investigation into an alleged 1996 camping trip with teenage pages. Despite the negative press and the political salivation over his valuable Arizona seat, conservative gays talk about Kolbe's efforts.

Profile: Who is Jim Kolbe?

Conservative Gays Speak:

GayPatriot, a blog dedicated to gay conservative issues, says of Jim Kolbe:

"While Jim would surely rather be remembered for championing free trade than for being an openly gay Republican, he provides a good example for all gay Republicans. When he came out, he continued to promote Republican principles of small government and open markets. By and large, his sexuality remained incidental to his service."

The Log Cabin Republicans have their say:

"He is recognized as one of America's leading advocates and experts on free trade. As a loyal Republican, Jim Kolbe never wavered in making a conservative case that all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation."

When the campfire smoke clears I wonder if Kolbe will be remembered as a free trade pioneer; an openly gay Republican; a lukewarm gay rights advocate; or just another scandal-ridden politician.