As many of our readers know, CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference) is one of the premier, if not the premier, annual conservative gathering. Slated to begin on February 18, 2010, it will draw leading conservative intellectuals and activists from around the country. Among the group’s many sponsors with be our friends at GOProud.
Announced that his organization will be “a cosponsor of the single most important conservative gathering in the country” Jimmy La Salvia, the group’s Executive Director pointed out that the “gathering of the nation’s most influential conservatives gives us an incredible opportunity to deliver our message.” When the various conservatives assembled for this shindig see gay Americans speaking out against Obama’s statist policies while calling for smaller government and more personal freedom, some may reconsider how they view gay people.
At the same time, by allowing this gay group to cosponsor their marquee event, the American Conservative Union (the leading sponsor of CPAC) shows that it welcomes gay people. Left-wing misconceptions notwithstanding, most mainstream American conservative organizations don’t discriminate against gay people. And while there remain many in the conservative movement who continue to harbor unwarranted prejudices against gay people, their attitude is not–and never has been–central to American conservatism.
As gay individuals becoming increasingly visible on the right, we can help correct those prejudices still present in pockets of our movement. Indeed, some groups, as one of our readers points out, who continue to promote such prejudices are also cosponsoring the conference. Let us hope the presence of GOProud alongside them at the conference helps wean them of their prejudice.
By cosponsoring CPAC, GOProud is doing something other gay organizations refuse to do: establish a gay presence an environment where prejudice persists. If we really want to change attitudes toward gays, we need to work in environments where attitudes need to be changed.
I think it will be important to remember that many conservatives are Christians. The appeal of Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, for instance, is that their politics comes from their faith. If gays want to truly be part of the conservative movement, they need to make gay Christians more visible. They need to show that there are gays who believe that sex is only moral within lifelong, monogamous, publicly accountable relationships. If this isn’t made clear, many conservatives will not even begin the process of welcoming gays into the fold.
I completely agree. It will be incumbent upon gay conservatives to convince our more liberal brethren that the beginnings of relationship responsibility, as reflected by our actions, behavior and willingness for open dialogue, needs to be the path forward.
Its time for the Gay Left to…well, reject their Leftism and realize that there is a higher purpose at stake for the precise thing it is they say they want. If they can’t start to convince themselves of that higher purpose–then they simple will not be able to convince anyone else. It really is that simple. Just as with individuals, the respect has to start inside the community before anyone on the outside of the community will begin to remotely take us seriously. We all know–if you don’t love yourself first then no one else can either. That’s going to be a tough lesson for some to grasp.
This is a good move…the radical-right can’t throw GOProud out, or claim it’s “unauthorized” when they are an official sponsor. And G/L conservatives need to inside to be engaged…not outside with signs.
If I can get away, maybe I’ll attend this year……
I’m very positive about GOProud gaining a foothold within the conservative movement. Although I’m politically independent, and still have concerns about the conservative movements need to push religion into the public sphere, maybe this will put a hold on many conservative groups homophobia. Because in all honesty I am sick of these groups constantly denigrating us.
I don’t think they’re denigrating “us,” I think they’re denigrating Adam Lambert, Mark Foley, Kevin Jennings, Rosie O’Donnell, et. al., who I consider “them.” I don’t consider myself a part of whatever group those gays are a part of. The fact that I share an orientation with someone doesn’t make an “us.” They can denigrate the Lamberts and Jennings of the world as much as they want and I’m right behind them. I want to show them that we who share traditional values are much more of an “us” than a group of unimaginative, amoral wierdos who reinforce stereotypes.
What makes GOProud think they’ll have any more success than LCR had? No, CPAC is controlled by the religious right and that’s not going away anytime soon. I can no more join hands with FRC, AFA, etc. than I could with Code Pink, MoveOn, etc. They are two sides of the same despicable coin.
Having said all of this, I do sincerely wish you guys the best and would love to proven wrong.
John, that’s easy. GOProud is actually reaching out to mainstream conservatives and not regularly bashing the GOP in its releases as did Log Cabin.
I take it you mean “GOProud” in place of “CPAC” above? That’s all well and good but I’ll believe it when I see it. If GOProud becomes nothing more than the token group of gays that quietly “goes along” so the GOP can point to it while continuing to suck up to the religious right that enjoys using us as their whipping boys, you’ll do a bigger disservice than whatever you may think LCR has done. The religious right groups are no different and no better than their partisan counterparts in the DNC. I want as little to do with them as possible, a feeling they happen to share with regards to folks like us so at least we share agreement on something… 😉
[Thanks, John, fixed the error. As to the religious groups, I have no problem working with them, provided they don’t sit at the head of the table or set (or otherwise control) the agenda. -Dan]
I’m hoping with good leaders like Jimmy LaSalvia and Christopher Barron we can get there.
I can no more join hands with FRC, AFA, etc. than I could with Code Pink, MoveOn, etc. They are two sides of the same despicable coin.
Mmm, let’s see, don’t like gays and are vocal about it versus support and endorse massive confiscation of private property, enormous tax increases, and terrorist attacks against the United States.
That one isn’t even close. Being wrong on a single domestic issue versus being wrong on almost every domestic AND international issue is way different.
Dan: That’s reasonable and in reality I will to when I consider it absolutely necessary, but I am not convinced that these groups won’t in fact continue driving the agenda as well as pull the strings in the GOP. Hence why until I see noticeable change I hold the GOP in great distrust.
NDT: It’s about more than just gays, this involves their whole outlook concerning religion and government. I do not support this, consider it a threat against the Constitution and limit any contact with them unless it is absolutely necessary. Ditto for the far left. Two peas in a pod I suppose you could say…