Ken Mehlman, senior Republican party figure, reveals he is gay

After heading a Republican party that was openly hostile to the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans, the former Republican party chairman and Bush aide Ken Mehlman has stepped out of the closet.

In doing so Mehlman becomes the most senior Republican figure to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, at a time when the Republican party remains deeply opposed to same-sex marriage and the abolition of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars homosexuals from serving in the US military.

In an interview with Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic, Mehlman said he was going public over his sexuality because he wants to openly support the cause of legalising marriage for gays and lesbians. He told Ambinder:

"It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life," said Mehlman, now an executive vice-president with the New York City-based private equity firm, KKR. "Everybody has their own path to travel, their own journey, and for me, over the past few months, I've told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and supportive. The process has been something that's made me a happier and better person. It's something I wish I had done years ago."

Mehlman was George Bush's campaign manager for the nail-biting 2004 presidential election, and served as chairman of the national Republican party from 2005 to 2006. During that period Republican strategists resorted to devices such as state referendums banning gay marriage as wedge issues designed to motivate Republican voters.

Asked to explain his reaction to the Republican party's gay-baiting tactics, Mehlman replied: "I can't change the fact that I wasn't in this place personally when I was in politics, and I genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally."

Mehlman said that George Bush was not homophobic, but that he was aware that Bush's political strategist Karl Rove had co-ordinated efforts to use anti-gay legislation and referendums to boost Republican turnout.

Although rumours had circulated in Washington DC, especially when Mehlman was targeted by gay activists attempting to out him, the news still came as a surprise to many.

Ambinder's interview also revealed that Mehlman has been working behind the scenes to help the American Foundation for Equal Rights – the backers of the the legal challenge to California's Proposition 8 banning gay marriage – raise funds from Republican donors.