The Log Cabin Republicans, the leading group of gay Republicans, is announcing today that it is endorsing presumptive GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.). The nod is significant not just because it allows the party a semblance of unity between its socially conservative and moderate wings but also because Log Cabin is announcing its decision earlier than it has in any recent presidential election.

In fact, in 2004, the group declined to endorse President Bush amid a campaign punctuated by a flurry of anti-gay-marriage ballot initiatives.

Four years ago, the group made its non-endorsement by the end of September. In 2000 and 1996, the group endorsed Bush and former Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.), respectively, after the GOP conventions.

Today marks Log Cabin’s “Big Tent” party in St. Paul, Minn., one of several events the group is hosting this week.

The national board of directors of Log Cabin voted 12-2 to make the endorsement.

“Sen. McCain showed courage by bucking his own party leadership and the president” on the federal marriage amendment, Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon said in a statement. “We have honest disagreements with Sen. McCain on a number of gay rights issues, Log Cabin will continue our conversation with him and other Republican leaders about issues affecting gay and lesbian Americans.”