The Wasington Post leads its Style Section today with an article on how gay bloggers are influencing politics. What caught our attention was that the only blogs mentioned had a liberal slant. Over at Newsbusters, a right-of-center media watchdog, Ken Shepherd took note, “Yet nowhere in his 20-paragraph profile does Vargas look into the generally conservative bloggers who maintain GayPatriot.net, a site that describes itself as “the Internet home for the American gay conservative.”
After generously quoting me, Shepherd observes, “Perhaps finding and reporting on generally conservative gay bloggers also upsets the Washington Post’s preferred narrative.”
You guys have hit the big time! I am so proud of you both. 🙂
Regards,
Peter H.
Ah, the ironing. Isn’t it the left that’s always claiming gheys are invisible to Republicans? Yet it would appear that to the left-wing media, gay conservatives are invisible.
Dan, what did you expect? They admitted that they were in the tank for Obama.
Do you really think that you are in the same league as Pam Spaulding, John Aravosis, Rogers, or the Huffington Post? I’m sorry but, how have you affected Gay public policy recently?
The article seemed to have two points. One that there were Gay activists (activist = someone who actually argues for something, which I don’t see gaypatriot as doing – I’ll get to that later) who are making real news, and obtaining influence.
The second is that these blogs have erupted to the left of the mainstream Gay groups because there is a groundswell of Gay frustration with the ineffective leadership by the HRC and the other bigname Gay groups. You may take this as a compliment, but you don’t appear really to advocate anything Gay. The themes in here don’t appear to be anything other than what I can find on any non-Gay right wing websites.
In short, you aren’t in the same league as those mentioned, aren’t activists on Gay public policy issues, and don’t make as much news as the other Gay sites. You aren’t really part of the debate. If you’d like to be, then you may wish to upgrade the Gay content of your website.
Many (but not all) of the posters here: 1) oppose DADT repeal 2) oppose marriage equality, 3) oppose gay inclusion into hate crimes or non-discrimination laws. Your views are opposed by most Gay Republicans I know, much less the vast majority of Gay people in the USA.
The article also talked about influence. If you don’t have an agenda, how can you influence anything? And to be honest, I can’t see an agenda here except blame the Democrats for everything, cheerlead the GOP regardless of whatever they do. How are you different from a non-Gay right wing website?
I’m not sure that your website’s agenda actually has any traction in the Gay community. Or is relevent to the Gay community. Some of the major posters in here actually take great pride in “Not being part of the Gay community”. Those should not be upset when you are treated as not quite part of the Gay community or if included in the Gay community, a fringe group.
The websites mentioned have influence because they have a core group of committed readers that is much more committed and much larger than yours.
Offering for your readers nothing more than repetitive screeds about Bill Clinton signing Doma, while never seeming to ever getting fed up with the GOP (no matter what they do – many of your posters freely admit that they will never support the Democrats – regardless of the issues) gets old quickly and turns off people who might be willing to be activists in some Gay GOP interests (see below).
Why doesn’t the media constantly cover a Black GOP group or a Hispanic GOP group everytime they cover a mainstream Black or Hispanic group? Because those small groups aren’t always newsworthy.
Can you please provide examples of original reporting favorable to the mainstream Gay public policy issues that Gaypatriot has uncovered? Or examples of your influence on the Gay public policy issues? Or examples of your influence with prominent elected officials that resulted in positive Gay rights advances?
By the way, there is a place for a pro-Gay rights (which I don’t see from many of the contributors here at gaypatriot) movement that is in the GOP. Attacking Artur Davis (a homophobe Democrat from Alabama running for Governor in 2010), any return of Willie Jefferson, or attacking supposedly liberal Democratic leaders who won’t LEAD on Gay rights issues in Congress (how about challenging Nancy Pelosi for not LEADING or being ineffective on Gay rights issues in 2010).
Kudos and Shepherd hit the nail (and liberals) on the head.
The article was about Gay activists using blogging to influence public policy on Gay issues.
Your site seems to be generic right wing talking points with occasional chats about cruising. There’s no activism, no influence, and very little Gay content here.
Make some news, make some influence advocating for Gay public policy issues, or lead a large protest or public action and you might be newsworthy.
The Liberal narrative won’t ever acknowledge that a gay person could ever be Conservative.
I joined a conversation at my work before the election where two guys were talking about a third guy.
Guy 1: Did you know M. is a Republican?
Guy 2: Really? I thought he was gay.
Me: What does that mean?
Guy 1: He is. I don’t see how any gay guy or any black people could ever be Republicans. They hate them.
Me: ???? We do? I guess someone should tell my gay and black friends that I hate them. I’m sure they will be as surprised to find that out as I am.
Tolerant left? It’s an oxymoron. They have no tolerance at all for conservative thought.
Tom, this one sentence defines why your rant is little more that just that a rant: “Can you please provide examples of original reporting favorable to the mainstream Gay public policy issues that Gaypatriot has uncovered?”
It’s not our job to report mainstream Gay public policy issues, but to challenge them because the so-called mainstream gay public policy groups are really left of center. And we see it as part of our task to expose that. And we have done that on more than one occasion.
We would have be satisfied with just a mention to acknowledge that not all gay blogs are left of center.
I love your gay conservative blog – and I’m a straight conservative woman living in Northern California! After the election I felt so cold and alone in this liberal mecca that I started turning to conservative blogs for comfort and have added yours to my favorites. I love that you don’t fit the typical definition of a conservative according to liberals and I look forward to reading your blog daily!
Dan,
Even using Tom’s ‘criteria’ GP.net has made an impact. Look at the visibility this site has to right wing blogs. You’ve raised the awareness of the inclusion of the Republican party, reporting how openly you’re accepted.
GayPatriot.net doesn’t need to ‘organize protests’ it’s about building the house, not burning it down (or breaking in and occupying it, like ACORN) 🙂
It’s not our job to report mainstream Gay public policy issues, but to challenge them because the so-called mainstream gay public policy groups are really left of center. And we see it as part of our task to expose that.
Dan, not to quibble but just the other day you acknowledged bob had a point that you needed to offer ideas and solutions as well as criticisms and challenges. If you’re a “gay conservative”, I’d like to see more “gay” takes on conservative policies and maybe an increased willingness to take on your own party. Michael Steele, someone you were delighted to see named RNC chair, was just quoted as saying it would be “crazy” to even discuss civil unions. Silence. I know the MO for die hard liberals and conservatives is not to criticize their own party, but personally I think it just increases credibility. It’s utter crap compared to yours and gets hardly any traffic, but on my own blog I criticized Pelosi and Reid for being hyper-partisan and ignoring Obama’s outreach to Republicans. I rarely see anything like that here.
And as far as “mainstream Gay public policy issues”, once someone explains to me why unlimited abortion, higher taxes, punishment of business, demanding the firing of people over political donations, and legalization of prostitution and drug use are in any way related to being gay, then I suppose I could consider it.
Word of advice, Tom; “gay” is an adjective, not a noun. The fact that your sexual orientation apparently determines everything about you is not praiseworthy; in fact, it’s downright scary.
If you could point to anything gay about this site other than the name, maybe people would look at you differently.
The Gay Patriot is a fine and refreshing site.
Sexual orientation doesn’t define a person and it shouldn’t. It is silly to suggesting it.
People don’t realize gay republicans exist thanks to msm’s deaf ear.
An older gay friend got me involved in the young Republican’s Association (when I was young). My parents, traditional republicans, were pleased because I was deciding for myself what I thought and surprised to know gay republicans exist.
I hope this makes sense because I’m tired.
We’ll see more gay republicans emerge and gain more of a voice when more gay decide to think for themselves rather taking what they hear as gospel.
I think it goes without saying that Bruce and Dan consider themselves far higher than the dog shit on the bottom of your shoe.
Well, if there was any evidence in Tom’s vomitus that he’s ever read this blog, I’ll be damned if I can find it. And when did Huff ‘n’ Stuff become a gay blog. I had no idea.
But then, I missed the cruising discussions we apparently have here.
Hi! My name is Steve. I’m 18, bl/bl A&F model with a 15″ cock. Dan & Bruce won’t let me post pictures here, but you can see them for the low, low introductory fee of $59.99/mo.
Is that better?
Ok, I’m not agay guy, but I am a thinker…
What are ‘gay issues’
Abortion? Well if it’s going to be possible to select out gayness like it is downs syndrome (don’t blame me, I don’t do the ‘gay gene’ theory), it’s going to be a ‘gay issue’
The administration opening relations with nations who like to drop walls on gay men? I’d call it that.
Pointing out hypocracy of the icons on the left who out gay men for political gain? Definately.
Gay Marriage, and why the movement is 0-30? Check.
Would someone explain to Tim that this is a political blog and the fact that it doesn’t post the results of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, any of the design shows, or teh latest numbers from the logo channel do not disqualify it from being a blog about ‘Gay Issues’?
PeeJ (#13) — I point at YOU. Is that gay enough for you?
*couldn’t resist*
*bad, GayPatriot, bad*
#18 – Bruce, well done!
Regards,
Peter H.
What does a blog have to do to be gay enough for you? Post shots from the latest Undergear catalog photo shoot?
If you could point to anything gay about this site other than the name, maybe people would look at you differently.
Somehow, I don’t think GP and GPW are suddenly going to start posting on the virtues of abortion, higher taxes, drug legalization, sexual promiscuity, teaching five-year-olds gay sex, antireligious bigotry, and all the other things that really seem to be “gay” issues.
Nope, Bruce. I’m not actually gay. I’m a straight man trapped in a gay man’s body. Or so it often seems.
I’m here for the Patriot, not for the Gay. Tom’s expectations aren’t met because he’s applying a liberal activist standard to a blog created in reaction to that very standard. I wish for greater depth on all issues. More quality, less quantity.
Well, that couldn’t hurt. 😉
After reading your comments, I still don’t see why you would be upset not to be included in a list of influential Gay bloggers.
Your site, other than a particular focus on attacks on Gay groups fighting for public policy issues, and a few stories about cruising at the gym, isn’t gay at all. And no, undergear ads wouldn’t be what I’m looking for. Gay Patriot West appeared to be very close to admitting that this site exists for the purpose of only attacking Gay groups. While at the same time, cheerleading bigots like Jindal and Gilmore.
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t do nothing more than attack the mainstream Gay communities agenda and personalities and then WHINE when you aren’t included as representatives of the Gay community. The same 10 posters have been in here for YEARS attacking anyone who supports public policy that supports and protecting the Gay community. But outside those 10 people, I don’t see any support in the Gay community.
There is a place for a pro-Gay conservative voice. Unfortunately, you and your posters are not pro-Gay, and not really conservative. Just partisan.