Just returned from the Hollywood Congress of Republicans dinner and had a great time. I sat next to the wise and witty columnist Bridget Johnson and got the chance to hobnob with my pal and fellow blogger Dirty Harry (who blogs at Jackson’s Junction), finally meeting his lovely wife. Actress Cheryl Felicia Rhoads spoke to the crowd and shared anecdotes of growing up Republican and coming out (as a Republican) in Hollywood.
Aware that many Republicans in the entertainment industry are afraid to come out because they fear it might jeopardize their careers in a business dominated by liberal Democrats, she said, “Just be who you are because that’s what you have to bring to the table.” Sound advice for a Republican in a “blue” area as it is for a gay person in straight society.
Her words struck a chord with me. Until just about a year ago, I had pretty much kept quiet about my politics since moving here in 1999. And yet, since I have come out as a Republican, I have felt more alive than I did in those years when I was in the political closet. More opportunities have opened up for me. A Republican screenwriter has become a fan of my work. When I wrote to some blogger back east, he invited me onto this blog where I have found a few more fans. Thanks, readers!!
So, I have learned from personal experience how right Cheryl is. By being true to myself, by being open about my love for movies and mythology as well as my interest in politics and commitment to conservative principles, I have realized that I do indeed having something to bring to the table, something that I had once hesitated to reveal as it set me apart from so many others in this town. Perhaps it is because I am so “set apart” that I have something unique to say.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com