Gay couple buy JebBushForPresident.com web domain, and refuse to sell

Jeb Bush is tipped to follow his father and brother, run to become US President in the 2016 election

Former Florida Republican Governor Jeb Bush prior to speaking at the 2014 National Summit on Education Reform in Washington, DC, November 20, 2014. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

A gay couple have bought the web domain for JebBushForPresident.com and refuse to give it up, in a bid to raise awareness of issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the son of former President George Bush senior, last month said he was considering running for president.

In 2008, CJ Phillips and Charlie Rainwater from Portland, Oregon, who described themselves as high-tech, nerdy bears, bought the domain which Bush will likely need to run his campaign.

Phillips told Business Insider the couple plan to blog about national and international legislation which affects the LGBT community.

A message on the page currently explains that the couple "are looking to inform our friends and family about some of the challenges we face being part of the LGBT community.

"This page is intended to prompt understanding, insight, and healthy dialogue in the ever changing landscape of civil rights and social justice. Now we just need to find some time!"

As Bush is a favourite to become Republican presidential candidate, its likely the pair will receive a fair few hits on their website. But he's also an apt choice for the couple's project, because of his previous views of LGBT people.

In 1994, Bush was staunchly opposed to gay rights, and argued that gay men and lesbians did not deserve special legal protection, and that "sodomy" should not be "elevated to the same constitutional status as race and religion."

This week, he said people should accept court rulings that legalise same-sex marriage and "show respect" for gay and lesbians in committed relationships, while reiterating his long-held belief that "marriage is a sacrament", according to the Washington Post.

According to Phillips, the couple has received multiple offers from interested parties looking to buy the domain.

"We've had a couple of offers. One person asked flat-out why a gay couple would have a candidate centric domain," he said, adding, "The latest was someone saying they wanted to buy the domain as a birthday present for a friend!"

The domain name "Jebbushforpresident.net" is also claimed, by a web user describing themselves as "a loyal Republican" hoping to expose Bush as a "social liberal at".

A spokeswoman for Bush did not respond to an email from Business Insider asking if he has made any attempt to purchase JebBushForPresident.com or if he had any comment on Phillips and Rainwater's plans for the site.