Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: A new gay Republican group emerges
This is slightly old but who doesn’t love a gay Republican tale? Looks like many of you are going to have to dust off the “self-hating” epithet and throw it a new gay conservative organization.
Called GOProud, the new tax-exempt 527 will offer another home for gay and lesbian conservatives outside of the Log Cabin Republicans (where are they?). The organization’s take-off will happen tomorrow and its focus will be elections and federal issues.
“There hasn’t been a voice for … gay conservatives for the last five months, really, in Washington,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, GoProud’s executive director and a former Log Cabin policy director. “And so as that time has lapsed, that was when we made the assessment and determined the need for an organization in Washington and put the pieces in place to make that happen.”
I’ve been writing here long enough (for some that is a problem) to know the responses. A hardy few will say this is a good thing. They will point out that wanting to wake up next to a cute lad or gal (or both!) doesn’t have much to do with ideology. The majority though, will throw out the word traitor. Make some historical connection with Jews for Hitler and question the mental stability of any gay person who says the word Republican minus a curse.
GoProud deserves a fair hearing. No matter how much we gnash our teeth, there are a number of our gay brothers and sisters who are right of center. Here are some numbers presented by LaSalvia. In last year’s election approximately 5 percent of voters identified as gay. Of those 27 percent gave their votes to John McCain. Don’t they deserve a political organization that represents and advocates their interests?
PS: RIP Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick.
All…you need to get off this party-bashing crap and vote for the candidates that most closely support your own views of where you believe this country needs to go. Then, we need to hold the candidates feet to the fire when they don’t do what they promised no matter what party they are from. If you buy into the hype, misrepresentation, and total BS that’s thrown out by either party as marketing propaganda you are exactly the type of lemmings both political parties want you to be and deserve to be led around by the nose. Vote the candidates and their values, not the parties. We’re individuals, the candidates are individuals, and bashing anyone for aligning with either party when they may be working in that party for exactly the things you want is truly self-defeating.
‘Self-hating’?! [Female dog] you better step back. Oh how I hate those that judge others. Why don’t you get to know some of us first?
I’m a regestered Republician because I’m pro-military (I served for many years, but I’m opposed to this ‘war on terror’ bs.), less government (’less’ not ‘no’ The Feds should have stepped in long before the current financial crisis), less social services (though what this country has done with the AIDS crisis in the US is appauling), and lower taxes (and not just for the rich).
The party has failed on many of those ideals, but the Dems haven’t gotten us to the promiseland either. The current President still won’t say the marriage word for gays, nor has he lifted the ban as promised.
BTW, I voted for Obama.
@ Darius: I just happen to be gay. It is not the most interesting thing about me, nor does it automatically assume that I will be a democrat. At times, there are bigger fish to fry. Ask people who are struggling financially right now, ask people who have children at war, and I believe they will tell you their priorities lie elsewhere.
If, through my efforts, I have swayed just a handful of staunch Republicans into voting for marriage equality, then I have done some good and maintained my political integrity.
“Don’t they deserve a political organization that represents and advocates their interests?” Republicans do no serve the interest of GLBT Americans. And until that party can seperate socially conservative from fiscally conservative they deserve no vote from the GLBT community. Voting for a Republican when you openly identify as “gay” makes no sense.
It’s an amusing scenario when Democratic gays give threats to Republican gays, when I know plenty of heterosexual, religious Republicans who have never threatened me for being a gay Republican.
So much for a gay community.
For years I have had a gag reflex when thinking of ANY gay person being a Republican. And I’ve felt embarrassed as the Log Cabin Republicans endorsing Republican candidates who’s positions would harm us.
But… they are having a convention in DC (today I believe), and Cindy and Megan McCain are speaking there in support of gay marriage. And all of them are going to ‘work’ on Republican state senators in New York to get a few of them to vote for marriage equality.
If they can win the support of the 4 or 5 we’ll need to prevail there, then their existence and efforts will have to be acknowledged. As for myself, I’ll have to reconsider their argument over the years that it benefits our society to have members inside that organization.
Think of it, New York with gay marriage, pushed by a governor – passed by a legislature with Republican votes.
How can anyway say that the Democrats don’t look after us more, than the Republicans. Notice the news: Vermont Governor a Republican, vetoes marriage bill. Demos over ride. Today the Governor of NY (Democrat) pushes for same sex marriage. Washington State Governor(Democrat) pushed and got gay/lesbian partnership rights. It almost always Democrats. How much gay legislation was passed under Bush? Who do you think is pushubg the Matthew Shephard bill? The employments no discrimination bill? It sure isn’t Republicans leading the charge.
The Republicans see us gays as the NAZI did! Remember they gave back LogCabin Republican contributions! Every Republican group is doing all they can to remove more civil rights enjoyed by ALL other AMERICANS except the LGBT community!The right to marry is one in the limelight now. We still can loose our jobs for being gay or PERCEIVED as gay! Same with public accomodations in many states.What discrimination is socially is acceptable except anti-gay?
A whole new party not Republican nor Democrat can be trusted. Look at the stimulus bills. TRILLIONS of dollars are gone to criminals. No one who took down our financial system is indicted. If you steal BIG you get away with it. Steal small go to PRISON. Federal government is the heart of corruption and creation of Defense Of Marriage Act which I consider violation of Articles IX and X of the Bill Of Rights!
May I just say to those claiming that being a gay Republican is hypocritical, that I have experienced more prejudice/hatred from GAYS and DEMOCRATS, than I have from fellow Republicans. I have actually been told by a gay Democrat that I, as a gay Republican should and I quote “get AIDS and die!” Now you tell me, where is the hypocrasy there?
I’m glad, as an Australian that the population of my country is only 22 million and therefore the gay conservtives just don’t have the numbers too build a lobby group of significants and credability.
Oh, of COURSE, I will give them a fair shake (dripping with sarcasm) While I am at it, Withers, I will be sure to sharpen their knives and polish their bullets for them.
Really now, you don’t honestly expect ANYONE to give a rat’s @ss about these idiots do you?
Gay republicans? I detest them MORE (if it’s possible) than I do the straight ones.
I don’t label myself as either Democrat or Republican. I weigh out who and what issues are more important every voting season and won’t vote if both parties are equally repugnant at the time.
Well… as long as the vote Democrat and work in the Republican Party, fine with me.
As to Republican being small government, they haven’t been that way since Goldwater lost his election. They’ve proven to NOT be fiscally conservative or responsible for many presidencies. Small Town Republicans aren’t always that bad but the national guys…
I am more Libertarian too but I’m not stupid either. You vote for your important issues until the “other guy” realizes he needs to support your issues.
Good idea there “mavsfan”. Wonderful game plan. Let us all know how your covert conversion of the GOPricks works out, ‘kay. ROFL.
Just pathetic.