Goodbye & Don’t Let the Door Hit You

From the SFBayTimes.com:

In response to mounting criticism of gay conservatives, Dale Carpenter, a prominent gay writer, is threatening to bolt the movement. In a recent column, he spoke of his “rising anger” with how gay advocates treat his ideological brethren. Of course, we know this is a bluff because Carpenter and other gay conservatives have nowhere else to go. They are dependent on the very liberalism they condescendingly deride and rejected by the very political party they claim to be a part of.

What is notable about Carpenter’s tirade, is how it is at odds with his often intelligent columns. He regularly offers sharp legal critiques and prescient political analysis. However, when discussing gay conservatism, Carpenter uncharacteristically becomes irrational, falling into an undeserved victimhood that is a hallmark of gay Republicans.

For example, Carpenter is upset because Jonathan Crutchley, the co-founder of the gay cruising site Man Hunt, was skewered after giving a contribution to John McCain. Carpenter surmises that there is a witch hunt because of Crutchley’s political affiliation. This is not true.   If he were just another gay business owner, no one would care whom he contributed to. However, it is preposterous for a man whose commodity is sodomy to give money to a candidate who wants to appoint Supreme Court Justices who would be in favor of outlawing gays from having consensual sexual relations. It is this type of cognitive dissonance that earns gay conservatives such deserved contempt.

Republicans in Congress have blocked gay rights progress for nearly three decades. It was President George W. Bush who stumped for a Federal Marriage Amendment. It was Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott who once compared gay people to kleptomaniacs and alcoholics. I could fill 10 columns with despicable acts and words lobbed at the GLBT community by members of the Republican Party. While the Democrats are not perfect (see Sam Nunn), anyone who compares the two parties is smoking something that has higher street, than political value.

The modern Republican Party was molded by President Nixon’s “southern strategy” and built by Ronald Reagan, a president who ignored the AIDS crisis. It has been home to horrendous bigots, such as Sen. Jesse Helms, Rep. Bob Dornan, commentator Pat Buchanan and Vice President Dan Quayle - who pushed the term “family values,” which notably did not include GLBT families.

Read the rest by clicking here.

Gay Republican Faces Uphill Battle

From the nydailynews.com.

Openly gay state Senate hopeful John Chromczak knows about intolerance - he’s a Republican running in New York City.

Chromczak is believed to be the GOP’s first openly gay candidate for state Senate.

“[Being gay] doesn’t have that much of a shock value because we are becoming assimilated into society,” Chromczak said.

Chromczak, 38, is running for a seat in the heavily Democratic 25th Senate District, which stretches from lower Manhattan into Brooklyn.

Gay and Republican? Get the Facts Before You Vote!

Are you gay, lesbian, bi or transgender and thinking about supporting the McCain/Palin ticket? Think again. This duo could be a detriment to our community in a big, big way.

Watch this video:

Log Cabin Republicans Left Out in the Cold

The old guy, John McCain who is running for president, has long been an advocate AGAINST gay rights. He has kept it no secret that he favors “traditional definition of marriage.” However, McCain did send his chief adviser Steve Schmidt in to give some lip service to the the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay advocacy group. ThinkProgress was there filmed exclusive video of the speech.

Schmidt opened by claiming a personal connection to LGBT issues because his sister is a lesbian. Schmidt did not take the time to talk about McCain’s opposition to gay rights and was extremely cautious in expressing any support for the GLBT Community. He did state; “over time” more equality for gays “will be reached”.

I’m not sure what the “gay republicans” are thinking, but the McCain campaign has and does adamantly opposes the Log Cabin Republican’s platform, which includes “equality for gay and lesbian people.” McCain kept no secrets about why he couldn’t pick Michael Bloomberg as VP, mainly because Bloomberg is “pro-gay rights.” McCain opposes gay adoption of orphans, supports Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and opposes gay marriage and civil unions.

On the note of Sarah Palin, the LCR don’t have her support either. When she was running for governor of Alaska, not only did she opposed gay marriage, but even civil unions. “I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,” Palin said during her 2006 campaign.

Check out his, not so convincing talk where he also calls Sarah Palin’s speech “one of the great speeches of political conventions”. Did he actually see her speak?

What a Sad Day for Gay Repblicans

According to an article on blogs.tnr.com;

Social conservatives are firmly in control of the Republican convention. Some of the groups that had dissented in the past–such as Ann Stone’s Republicans for Choice–are not visible at this convention. The only vestige of the Republicans’ more tolerant past is the Log Cabin Republicans, the organization of gay Republicans. But instead of actively dissenting from the Republican platform–which backs state laws against gay marriage, and opposes gay adoption and the participation (in any form) of gays in the military–and pressuring John McCain to repudiate it, the Log Cabin Republicans have closed ranks behind the nominee and the party.

Read the rest here.

Next Page »