Full Disclosure and Disclaimer

From nearly the first day in September 2004 that I launched the GayPatriot blog, many fellow bloggers, readers of GayPatriot, Log Cabin Republican board members, and even the Gay Leftists have openly wondered about my identity. In fact, you may recall I was incorrectly ?outed? as Christian Grantham a few months ago.

Well, as part of my return to the blog I decided to come out of the blog-closet and reveal my identity as well as my background. I have never desired fame or fortune, just a creative outlet to share my views but I think it is time to be more candid as it may allow you to gain more perspective on my personal experiences and current view of our world.

My name is Bruce Carroll. I?m a 36 year-old, only child of a single Mom. I?m Louisiana-born, Pennsylvania-raised, and a proud gay Conservative. I have always been and always will remain an American first, Republican second and ?gay American? last. I do not define myself by my sexual orientation, but I do not hide from it either. However, I would rather be judged on my character and contribution to society than on my sexual orientation.

I grew up in a small town 60 miles west of Philadelphia called Parkesburg, Pennsylvania ? on the edge of Amish Country. The core values that I was raised on by my single Mom have stayed with me all my life and are an important compass that I use every day of my life. Integrity, loyalty, honesty, modesty, respect of others, faith in God, and active citizenship are values that I hold dear and that I value in friends and colleagues. I was a quiet kid in high school until senior year when I broke out of my shell. Hmm…I think I?m supposed to be in charge of my 20 year class reunion next year?.. yikes! I was also a Boy Scout, a paper boy, and worked at McDonalds in my high school years.

I have worked every day of my teenage and adult life and have earned everything I have ever achieved in my life. I pay my taxes, have voted in every election since I turned 18, and have never been in legal trouble?..aside from parking/moving violations. *grin*

I am a 1990 graduate of Syracuse University where I received a Bachelor of Arts with dual majors in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. I was the Opinion Editor and then Editor-In-Chief of the award-winning Syracuse student newspaper, The Daily Orange. I had to work my way through college and held such exciting jobs as book-shelver at the Syracuse student library. *sarcasm*

My professional background includes working for a major suburban Philadelphia hospital in public relations, a legislative aide to a former Pennsylvania State Senator, and being elected as councilman in my hometown of Parkesburg.

I have been involved in Republican grassroots politics since I was a teen. I have served as an elected Republican County Committeeman, and also was for a short time a board member of the Philadelphia Log Cabin chapter in the late-1990s. At the time I was excited to find a group of diverse gay Republicans (black, white, male & female) that held the same core values I did. It was, in fact, my second ?coming-out.?

I also contributed occasionally to Log Cabin National prior to the March 2004 decision of LCR to run campaign ads targeting President Bush. That decision resulted in my contributing the maximum allowed personal political contribution to the Bush-Cheney ?04 campaign last year. And my displeasure with Log Cabin National is now no secret thanks to this blog. The core values that brought me to LCR in the ?90s have been diluted by the self-absorbed agenda of the Gay Leftists. I hope to do my part to bring back LCR to its roots.

For the past 11 years, I have worked for a growing biotechnology company that was acquired in 1999 by one of the most respected healthcare manufacturers in the world. For most of my career in biotech, I have been a registered lobbyist handling Federal and state issues completely unrelated to my political views and posts expressed on this blog. However, 16 months ago I started a new job that I love for the same company doing field-based marketing, advocacy and management.

My partner John and I have been together for six and a half years and we have two kids ? Saxby, a five-year-old black Labrador Retriever (who has been featured here and previously known as ?PatriotPooch?), and Romper, a 17-year-old English Cocker. We live in Northern Virginia and have since the Year 2000.

I hope that gives you some insight into who I am. I am a very private person, I respect others privacy, so I hope you understand that I?m not one to talk about myself very much ? even to those who know me well.

And finally today, I thought it was important to include the following disclaimer which will eventually become a permanent page on the GayPatriot site:

Disclaimer: The GayPatriot blog is an independent, political and opinion-based Weblog created by Bruce Carroll that is a forum focusing on gay conservative issues, themes, culture and ideas.

The postings on this Weblog are written during the personal time of its authors, Bruce Carroll and Dan Blatt, and the views expressed on this Weblog?s postings and comments are solely the individual personal views of its authors or the readers of this blog. Postings and comments on this blog do not necessarily represent the views of any other individual, company, or organization with which the authors are affiliated. GayPatriot?s authors disclaim and discourage the use of intimidation, violence, or any other illegal act as a way to advance one?s political beliefs.

The GayPatriot blog is not supported by any corporate, political or third-party organization either financially or with any other support whatsoever. The GayPatriot blog does not have any affiliation with any organization representing the Republican National Committee, the Log Cabin Republicans, or any other similar group.

This blog does accept personal donations via PayPal, and at present has not received any more than nominal donations from time to time. All expenses relating to the promotion and production of the GayPatriot blog come only directly from Bruce Carroll and Dan Blatt.

The GayPatriot blog will remain independent and will not be influenced by any factors other than what strikes the authors as interesting and timely subjects involving events or issues of the day. The GayPatriot blog will also continue to support the full expression of free speech, engage in humorous satire, and challenge the monolithic and entrenched moral, social and cultural views of the gay community and its national and local leaders.