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Think for a minute about what the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) represents — for the most part, a gathering of not mainstream conservatives of the reasonable sort, but a convention that showcases some of the most virulent anti-gay, anti-left fringe members of the right. Let's just say that the presence of past keynoters — Rush, Ann Coulter — and groups like the Family Research Council sponsoring it, CPAC is hardly the place to be if you're out and proud and expecting validation.
Look at this press release that landed in my inbox — a gay org beaming with PRIDE of a different kind — its sponsorship of CPAC.
For Immediate Release
December 8, 2009
Contact: Christopher Barron
CapSouth Consulting
(202) 286-4533
cbarron@capsouthdc.comGOProud to Cosponsor CPAC 2010
Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director – “GOProud is thrilled to be a cosponsor of the single most important conservative gathering in the country.”
Today, GOProud, the only national organization for gay conservatives and their allies, announced they are a cosponsor of CPAC 2010. Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud’s Executive Director, said, “GOProud is thrilled to be a cosponsor of the single most important conservative gathering in the country.”
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) will take place February 18-20 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. “GOProud’s participation at CPAC is one of the most important things we will do all year,” continued LaSalvia. “This gathering of the nation’s most influential conservatives gives us an incredible opportunity to deliver our message.”
“GOProud looks forward to continuing to work with the conservative movement to promote policies that will improve the lives of all Americans – including gays and lesbians,” concluded LaSalvia.
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GOProud represents gay conservatives and their allies. GOProud is committed to a traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy. GOProud promotes our traditional conservative agenda by influencing politics and policy at the federal level. PO Box 15861, Washington, DC 20003. For more information visit our website www.goproud.org
As I've said many time before, I may not align with sane conservatives on a lot of issues, but I at least respect the ideal of small and limited government, such as privacy rights, and have said many times that LGBTs need to have representation in both parties in order to achieve equality faster. But as Andrew Sullivan and Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs noted in their drop-kicks of the current conservative movement, it has been taken over by the theocrats, flat-earthers and teabagging bigots — and sadly there's no end in sight.
Why is GOProud still clinging to the hope that they can “work from within” to effect change? I suppose someone has to keep trying to save the GOP from itself, but it's depressing how there are some members of our community that continue the self-flagellation for the entertainment of the fringe right.
Chris Johnson at DC Agenda has more.
35 Comments
I would imaginethat CPAC is a great place for a group like GOProud to recruit new members.
Egads.
I can understand why some fiscally conservative GLBTs would align with socially moderate/liberal repubs…But CPAC? Are you kidding?!?
It’s not for me, but it is really counterproductive to do outreach?Do we have this same reaction to groups that try to do outreach at anti-LGBT religious campuses (I’m thinking Soulforce here)?
By extension, should we continue to do outreach to conservative Democrats, Democrats generally, progressive groups that don’t support LGBT issues 100%, etc.?
While I admit this is not where I would invest my resources and time for the best short-term ROI, it’s not completely useless.
The linked article indicates that GOProud’s sponsorship may have had made an anti-LGBT group threaten to leave the conference. Progress?
If you don’t sit at the table…You’ll NEVER have a place at it.
Also, there’s a great deal to be said for subversion !
Especially since it’s worked so well…“Why is GOProud still clinging to the hope that they can ‘work from within’ to effect change? “
“Why is GOProud still clinging to the hope that they can “work from within” to effect change?”They’re not.
They’re not now – because they never were.
These aren’t the people who worked with moderate Republicans like Arne Carlson to get trans-inclusive civil rights legislation in Minnesota.
These are people who are positioning themselves to be the token acceptable House F**s when the rest of us are sent to the fields – or worse – by Lady Protector Sarah
CromwellPalin.Sounds like a clusterf*ck of Mehlman and Rove and TranyhamAnyone know if there are actually LGBT folks in this organization, or any members beyond a letterhead?
You’re kiddingThat’s disgusting. How could a gay person live with herself supporting abject bigotry like that?
I have to go puke.
Glad they’re trying.I’m not a big fan of either of these groups, but I do appreciate GOProud trying. We’ve had gay groups kissing the butts of the Dems for decades with little to no advancement, so why not give this group some support in their efforts?
I recall the recent blog posting http://pamshouseblend.com/diar…
The republicans gave 0 votes for equality, the democrats gaves 2/3rds of their votes for equality, and then the republicans had their gop gays attack the democrats & defend the republicans. I sometimes feel like gop gay groups just give them more wiggle room to unanimously spew hate & get away with it.
Gay and Republican?Sounds as tragic as a Jewish Nazi, or an African-American KluKKer. When you think of closet cases, like Ted Haggart and Larry Craig, who publicly demonize us, it sounds like a mental disorder. There is a mental disorder characterized by a need to identify with one’s oppressors. It’s called Stockholm Syndrome. Think Patty Hearst. I think gay persons who identify as “Republican” can benefit from some quality time with a therapist.
Isn’t there more room to grow in the GOP?The LGBT community has been linked to the Democratic party too long. Even groups with mostly good intentions have become nothing more than a left wing groups. Could someone explain to me why public funding for abortion or a public option in the final healthcare bill is so crucial that HRC had to sign on to both of those points?
I understand that most LGBT people lean left, but when you agree with 90% of the Republican platform, and the 10% of the platform that you disagree are related to gay rights, you have a dilemma.
The tea party movements are mainly concerned with fiscal issues and limited government. They are pushing for a smaller less intrusive government (mainly in business and taxes) and personal freedoms (mainly 2nd amendment). These are perfect platform points to expand to include LGBT rights.
We have most Democratic lawmakers on our side, and the President gives lip service to our cause, yet little gets done. We’ve got many more opportunities to expand our supporters in the GOP. I applaud GOProud for their efforts.
This is where a multi-party system…would truly come in handy in this country. I would like to be catered to by the parties, and not be expected to serve them like pets.
CPAP-Where Coulter called Edwards “Faggot”There are some levels of grovelling for favours that exceed shame, they reach the level of pathetic.
It may not be a bad thing…There are several things that could happen, not all of them bad:
- CPAC could return their check, but with the neo-con movement shrinking, they probably need the money.
- Other wingnut organizations would pull out of the conference in protest, weakening it further.
- GOProud could actually succeed at softening a few hearts or changing a few minds. Yeah, I know – not bloody likely.
- GOProud could finally wake up, smell the coffee, and realize that trying to get these ultra-right-wing neo-cons to like them is a hopeless cause. Again, not bloody likely.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
They’re the new SA –Self-hating wannabe house-faggots who think that their fascist buddies will keep them safe as long as they’re on the front lines when they come for the rest of us.
They created GOProud so Log Cabin Vichy queers have someone to laugh at too
Must’ve been a defunct fetish group or bar that closedI didn’t find out which however. It must have been one for those who are into humiliation and degradation and generally being despised by their “betters.” Low self-esteem must’ve been some kind of prerequisite.
Kinky….
Pam is mistakenThis group is not going to be doing anything to try to change the GOP from within. The group has made quite clear what its mission is. Its mission is to take right-wing positions, such as cravings for tax cuts, and try to sell them as gay rights. Meanwhile, the group has also made crystal clear that it does not intent to question GOP orthodoxy on real gay-rights issues. In other words, this group is a complete tool. It is run by gay Republicans who left Log Cabin because they thought it was too conservative and should have endorsed Bush in 2004.
Oh look, jews in SS uniform.How novel.
more like queers in SA uniforms
there is room to grow in the GOPJust not the current iteration of it. It’s too polluted with social conservatives who want to hold back civil rights and control women’s reproductive freedom and let Christofascism take hold.
I predict once LGBTs have civil rights parity, you’ll see many break off and go to the GOP simply because they are fiscal conservatives, but see no way to work for change from within a wingnut party. States have to be deep Blue before some of the Republicans approximate anything moderate.
Time warp?
If this was 1975, then the answer might be yes.
One party currently wants to string us along.
The other is populated with people who want to string us up.
Tell me…
If you supply your own rainbow-colored noose, will the christianist psychopaths (read: Palin and her drones) actually use it when they dispatch you?
If GoProud really wants to be effective…They need to make sure they help co-sponsor every possible Conservative get-together, and they need to be very prominent that they are Pro-Gay. They need to hand out pro-gay information in all the give-away bags, put rainbow flags everywhere.
What better way to drive away staunch conservatives than to have gays promoting the conference. They will stay away in droves to thimb their noses at anything gay releated.
Deanna
Not quite apples and orangesIt’s one thing to be respectful and work with opponents, particularly on areas of common ground; pretending opponents are invisible doesn’t advance the situation for either party and usually just makes the situation worse.
It’s the same reason that Nixon visiting China was a good thing and Clinton talking with North Korea was a good thing.
However, directly funding your opponent is not a strategic move. And CPAC is very openly opposed to any LGBT accomodating legislation. It doesn’t support the right to work and live and even has ties to the anti-gay legislation in Uganda that makes knowing a gay person a crime punishable by 3 years in jail.
Any gay person…that agrees with 90% of the GOP’s agenda deserves ALL of the scorn that they get.
Given that the GOP attitude to everything is “I got mine let me kick everyone else to the curb and piss on them while they are there” then GOP gays deserve nothing better than to be kicked to the curb by everyone else.
The ideology at they very core of the GOP is destructive and leads to discrimination (be it on race, age, gender, sexual orientation, class etc). For ANY gay person to endorse that ideology means that they are OK with with inequity and having a stratified society where some have everything and others have nothing. If that’s an ideology they share then they more than anyone else DESERVES to occasionally get a proverbial punch in the gut reminder that they to are part of the less than equal “other” that they so desperately want to lord over.
I’ve long suggested…That the GOP’s greatest mistake was feeling the need to kick gays to the curb.
They’ve continually ignored the fact that there are plenty of white gay men out there that share their bigoted, selfish ideology and would gladly sign on with them. These are the guys that grew up thinking that being at the top of the heap was their birthright. They only sided with the democrats once they learned that who they sleep with keeps them from their god given right to everything. So they are slumming it with the rest of us.
Pam is quite right…once the A-gays get their way, its off to the GOP.
Outreach? You’ve got to be kidding.GOProud is not interested in doing outreach. Their sole purpose for existing is to endorse the far-right agenda. They have gotten into bed with every far-right anti-LGBT group on the map. http://www.pamshouseblend.com/…
Actually if nefarious queers wanted to play dirtyJoin GOProud and endorse ALL the leading contenders running for re-election in the REDDEST STATES, make big PR NEWS to local media outlets.
It would be the KISS OF DEATH to those candidates courting the Fundie Birther Tea Baggers.
It depends – where would they find the libertarian Republicans?Back when I was in college, I was a member of YoungAmericans for Freedom (YAF), a conservative youth group that was sponsored/encouraged by William Buckley. There were two main subgroups in YAF then – those who ultimately became the NeoCons, and others, like my friend Cliff Thies, who were and still are in the numerically smaller but much more enlightened libertarian wing. The libertarian Republicans, when you can find them, are somewhat more moderate than the members of the various Libertarian parties, who often verge toward anarchy. If there are libertarian-leaning Republicans who still number themselves in a “conservative” wing, then GOProud is probably looking in a right place.
Democrats and Republicans both deny being bigots but the evidence says otherwise.Speaking of funding the right, remember how the Democrats Chief of Staff and CEO at the Denver convention, Leah Daughtry, used DNC funds to pander to bigots, aka “values voters”, fund antiLGBT and antichoice christian propaganda.
Both parties cater to the right and march in lockstep to the right. Before the Democrats sometimes claimed to be pro-GLBT (except during elections) but under Obama, Kaine, Dubois and Daughtry they’re much more open about their bigotry.
Daughtry, an ordained pentecostal minister set up a DNC front, “Faith in Action” to pander to the religious right. DNC funds financed the “Faith and Values Voters Guide,” of the Alabama’s Democratic party which included a plan to “require public schools to offer Bible literacy as part of their curriculum,” as well as to “defeat any efforts to redefine marriage or provide the benefits of marriage to a same-sex union”. AKA, “gawd’s in the mix”
The former leader of the DNC Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council, Donald Hitchcock, successfully sued the DNC for anti-GLBT firing because his partner, Paul Yandura, criticized the DNC under Daughtry for refusing to fight state DOMAs that aped Clintons federal DOMA.
Dubois, another ordained pentecostal bigot was responsible for the series of revival meetings featuring bigoted christer scum like Donnie McClurkin and MaryMary and later for Obama’s intimate and ongoing political relations with filth like Rick Warren, currently trying to establish the legal basis for a LGBT genocide in Uganda and elsewhere.
The differences between the DNC and GOProud are negligible. They’re bipartisan bigots.
I remember Youth for Fascism very well. They were like Cheney and most politicians.
They understood that enlistees and draftees were cannon fodder, and preferred, indeed, insisted that that young working class men and women die in their place in Nam.
They felt that their ‘place’ in society exempted them.
I may as well shoot that one downI wasn’t one of the “neo-con” members. They were exactly the way you put it, though. But the “libertarian” YAFfers were not like that – really. The friend I mentioned, and I, both joined ROTC after Nixon abolished the draft. I had resisted joining before that, even though my draft lottery number was 65 (and had Nixon not abolished the draft, I would have been drafted, as there was no college deferment for my year).
The fact that I was RIFfed (Reduction in Force) in 1975 w/o a commission was a matter of luck, not prescience.
The libertarian YAFfers were all starry-eyed idealists. if it weren’t for my reading The Good Old Days, They were Terrible, a picture book from the Bettmann Archive, I might have been less moderate libertarian as a Democrat that I am. (I can’t be a Republican, they don’t want me in their tent, and anyway, these days Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater would be seen as Big L Liberals by the neocon crowd).
It wasn’t personal. Half of the time we encounted YAF groups fistfights ensued. If I’d met your type of yaffie maybe we could’ve talked instead of dukeing it out.