Hiding among the Bushies: Barry Hayes took a job in Bush's reelection effort without mentioning he's gay. Turns out his coworkers needed no excuse to spew homophobia.(Politics)

Publication: The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)

Publication Date: 26-OCT-04

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COPYRIGHT 2004 Liberation Publications, Inc.

Entering my new workplace in Bakersfield, Calif.--a firm that does fund-raising and consulting for the state Republican Party and George W. Bush's reelection bid--I see a cardboard Arnold Schwarzenegger happily lifting two children into the air. Nearby, a picture of a smiling Bush hangs on the walk. The entrance gives way to an office of ringing phones, angry political debates, and dark blue ties. Men are yelling into the phone, while women politely ask callers for thousand-dollar donations.

This mix of calm and chaos would be my job for the next three months. Here I was: a gay man and lifelong Democrat who had become the newest intern for the Bush-Cheney reelection effort.

I'd recently graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and wanted to remain politically...

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