Republicans need to redefine themselves so they are not the party of intolerance

I wrote a letter to the editor in Austin that discussed the election. The republicans who disagreed with my letter and wrote to me referred to me as a lesbian or a derogatory slur associated with lesbianism, even though the content of my letter had to do with sexism and equality, not gay marriage.

I know the views shared by the dozen poeple who wrote back to me do not represent the party at large. however, the fact that people were comfortable identifying themself as republican and synonomously identifying themselves as a bigot - by using sexual preference as a personal defect.- speaks volumes to what the republican party tolerates. So long as the republican party  creates platforms around issues that disenfranchise minorities, whether it be gay marriage or "women's health", they will attract the worst in people. I really hope as the repubs figure out how to be successful they realize that it is no longer a winning formula to celebrate hate.  You don't want bigots on your team.