UNT is now home to a collection of materials from the "Austin 12's" historic conversation about gay rights with then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush. In 2000, Charles C. Francis, a friend of Bush, broke the barrier for gay-rights advocates by organizing a meeting with the governor and 11 other gay Republican men and women. On the agenda for the "Austin 12": personal stories as gay and lesbian Republicans and a discussion about Bush's presidential candidacy.