Q: Why did you decide to form the PAC Republicans for Choice?

A: Well, it's really interesting. I have been a Republican all my life and I have been political all my life. I believe in civil rights and rights for women. I am also a strong believer in individual rights. After 1973, the decision of Roe v. Wade, I knew that my party did not mean to be anti-choice, they were just mouthing the words ultimately. Nixon and Ford were pro-choice, so it really didn't bother me, but in the 70s the Republican Party got hijacked and essentially had a group take over the party. As a result after the 1980 campaign things started to heat up. In 1989 the Supreme Court had the Webster Decision which was the first decision ever to limit Roe v. Wade. It became a voting issue and in 1989 and 1992 I saw the party be crushed because of the issue of choice. There were two governorships that we didn't win because of the issue of abortion. People like myself became worried. I had dinner with Lee Atwater and he told me that if I wanted to do it they would need new spokespeople in the party to talk about the issue of abortion. Atwater said that they would need someone who was conservative and preferably a female. I decide to launch the organization with Nancy Johnson and Susan Molinari. A lot of the older pro-choice Republicans were really resentful that we got so much attention.

Interview of Chris Gast, an employee of Michigan Right to Life, conducted via email during the week of April 6- April 10, 2009. Initial contact made, questions devised, and sent out by Patrick Hoffman.

I recently interviewed Adam Taylor, vice-chair of the Michigan Democratic Party's LGBT and Allies Caucus and founder of Project Light, a suicide and crisis-prevention project for LGBT youth. One may never guess that Adam, for all his political involvement, is still a student at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. I discussed with him his involvement in the LGBT movement, the efforts of the LGBTA Caucus, and the effects of his efforts on policy-making in Michigan.