GOProud is an organization that represents gay, lesbian and transgender conservatives, as well as their allies. The organization is “committed to a traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy.” Guess what that conservative agenda also includes? It supports presidential candidates that do not support LGBT equality.
James LaSalvia, GOProud’s executive director, said this about the ruling that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, “This decision is just another step in the legal process. Obviously, the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately rule on this. We believe strongly that marriage is the province of the states and that states – through their elected representatives – should make these decisions.”
Hmm, no mention of the more than 1,100 rights that are afforded married couples by the federal government that same-sex couples are denied because of the Defense of Marriage Act. I guess that does not matter to the leaders and members of GOProud.
Last week, GOProud was interviewed on CNN about the fact that their group was disinvited to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). CPAC is the annual conservative Holy Grail where members and leaders of the Republican Party can hear red-meat speeches that extol the virtues of limited government and individual liberty.
Each year, CPAC is the largest gathering of conservative activists in the nation. Wait, GOProud was disinvited? Aren’t they the representative organization for gay, lesbian and transgender conservatives? Was there no room in the hotel? Was the ballroom too small? Why would CPAC disinvite GOProud?
The answer is simple; most conservatives do not like lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people. CPAC was more than happy to take GOProud’s money to be a sponsor in 2010 and 2011, but not this year. Why? Two reasons: CPAC is waging a culture war this year and could not possibly be bothered taking the money of organizations that represent people they are waging war against.
Further, CPAC has done the financial analysis; Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, the Heritage Foundation and Sen. Jim DeMint all boycotted CPAC because GOProud was a sponsor. So, the leaders of CPAC decided GOProud’s sponsorship was not worth losing the money of these other organizations or worse having conservative ideologue DeMint not give a speech.
I guess GOProud believes in the Groucho Marx philosophy, “I would never join a club that would have me as a member.” CPAC is saying, “GOProud, go away.”
Co-founder of GOProud, Chris Barron, defends the organization’s statement that any of the Republican presidential candidates is a better choice than President Obama by saying that the LGBT community considers a variety of issues when voting.
Barron says that the economy, jobs and retirement security are also important. He is right, but what is the most important – our equality or other issues? Maybe it is time for us to become one-issue voters. LGBT equality should be our only issue in 2012.
STAMPP CORBIN
Publisher
