Ashcroft and his gay supporters.

After surviving a confirmation hearing punctuated throughout by allegations of bigotry against gay men and lesbians, attorney general John Ashcroft sat down on February 22 with a group of his biggest supporters--gay Republicans. The meeting with Log Cabin Republicans was the first time Ashcroft met with a civil rights group since becoming attorney general. "That it was a gay organization reiterates the fact that the attorney general is serious about being everyone's attorney general," said Kevin Ivers, a Log Cabin spokesman. "He has stated more than any attorney general I can remember that he is going to be committed to enforcing the laws of this country without regard to ideology, and I think he's made that clear again with this gesture, meeting with a gay organization." Ashcroft, who received a 0 rating from the Human Rights Campaign his entire Senate tenure for his stands on gay issues, told Log Cabin that he would uphold civil rights laws for all Americans. "It's important for them to know that if they have a concern, it can be voiced," said Ashcroft's spokeswoman, Mindy Tucker.