Tell Meghan McCain to Convince her Father to Repeal DADT

Failed republican presidential candidate John McCain's daughter has been a strong and outspoken straight republican ally of the LGBT community, in a party where alliance with queers is frowned upon, and downright politically suicidal. Meghan has spoken up countless times in and urged conservatives to embrace marriage equality and for equality and justice for her gay and lesbian friends.

Now we need Meghan McCain to convince her father Senator John McCain to reconsider his opposition to repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. Please urge her to talk to her father before the Defense Budget Bill gets its vote in the senate.

Open Forum: Is the GOP Becoming the Gay Old Party?

The Republican party and the Conservative movement has not been known for their pro-gay stance. On the contrary they are known as touting "traditional family values" and promoting the concept of marriage as solely between one man and one woman. Many republicans also want to deny gays the right to serve their country, and be protected from hate crimes and employment discrimination. The Grand Old Party (GOP) has often used the issue of homosexuality as a wedge issue and a scare tactic to rile up their conservative Christian base.

Lately there has been some indication that many in the movement no longer want to be aligned with the anti-gay politics and bigotry associated with the right-wing. The younger generation of Republicans have grown up in a culture more tolerant of homosexuality, they have gay friends, have seen the subject brought up on TV and in movies and feel differently than their parents do on the issue. Take for example Meghan McCain daughter of failed Presidential candidate John McCain who is an ardent supporter of LGBT rights and marriage equality. Former Republican Governor Christine Whitman has told the GOP to remove same-sex marriage opposition from the party platform. Even lifelong Republican and Fox News contributor Margaret Hoover has joined the fight for marriage equality.

The people above are only a few examples of conservative individuals who have spoken out in favor of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Many other young voices are urging for the party to stop divisive attempts at silencing gay people in favor of promoting a more libertarian point of view of tolerance and freedom for all.

Over the weekend the Conservative Political Action Conference(CPAC) met and while the views are far from gay friendly, even in this conservative bastion change appears to be at hand. As insignificant as it may seem, allowing the GOProud a gay conservative group to table and sponsor the event was a big and controversial deal.

Take a look at what happened when anti-gay bigot Ryan Sorba spoke poorly of CPAC for allowing GOProud to attend:


He was booed for criticizing CPAC for allowing GOProud to attend. The room full of conservatives stood in support of CPAC's decision.

Is there a wave of change coming in the conservative movement? Are these just a few voices or is this indicative of a much larger revolution within the party? Perhaps the conservative movement is realizing that the younger generation do not see homosexuality as a political issue and the political tide is turning.

Fox News Contributor Margaret Hoover Joins the Fight for Marriage Equality

Fox News contributor and lifelong Republican Margaret Hoover has joined a growing list of fellow conservatives who publicly support same-sex marriage. In a blog posting on her site called "Joining the Fight for Marriage Equality" she explains her reason for joining the American Foundation for Equal Rights advisory board.

On a separate Fox News website posting called "Why I’m Joining the Fight for Marriage Equality" she praises conservative icon Ted Olson for taking conservatives in a new direction and urges the party to reconsider their current ideology.

"Republicans were historically the party ever-expanding freedom to disenfranchised minorities, from newly liberated slaves to giving women the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony was a Republican. By supporting the AFER trial we have an opportunity to establish our historic credibility on civil rights issues once again. But we should support marriage equality because it is the right thing to do" (Fox News)

This is another big figure in conservative politics joining the LGBT civil rights movement and she should be applauded and encouraged.

Margaret Hoover can be contacted at margaret@margarethoover.com

Blog Spotlight: A Newly Conservative Lesbian

A Newly Conservative Lesbian is a blog run by a 55 year old lesbian Cynthia Yockey whose views evolved over her lifetime from liberal to fiscally conservative. She has changed her party status and blogs about her opinions on being a gay republican

Former NJ Governor Tells Republicans to Stop Fighting Gay Marriage

The former Republican Governor of New Jersey Christine Whitman in speaking to the Log Cabin Republicans has called for a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and for the Republican party to remove their opposition to same-sex marriage from the GOP platform.

She argued that "civil marriage should be for everyone, and that gay couples marrying does not threaten her marriage". She went on to say that she respects that "there is a place for Conservative Christians in the party, but said that there should be a place for pro-equality Republicans as well".

Christine Whitman along with other moderate Republicans have created the Republican Leadership Council which seeks to get back to the fundamentals of the Republican party while striving for pro-LGBT, pro-choice, eco-friendly, and racial justice legislation.

Meghan McCain Our Ally Voice in the GOP!

Failed republican presidential candidate John McCain's daughter has been a strong and outspoken ally of the LGBT community, in a party where alliance with queers is frowned upon, and downright politically suicidal. Meghan McCain feels free to voice her opinion, not as a candidate but merely as a concerned progressive republican who supports abortion rights and gay marriage.

She maintains that gay issues are a generational divide and that the younger generation supports gay rights in record high numbers. She goes on to say:

"If the Republican Party has any hope of gaining substantial support from a wider, younger base, we need to get past our anti-gay rhetoric."

She argues that one can maintain their conservative faith and values while supporting civil liberties.

Explaining that "if anyone is still confused, let me spell it out for you. I believe life begins at conception and I believe that people who fall in love should have the option to get married" (AOL).

Contact Meghan McCain and thank her for standing up for equality in a party where her views are largely ignored, shunned, and highly unpopular. She is certainly an agent of change!

Rebuild The Party - Feedback Forum for the GOP

The Grand Old Party, hasn't exactly been the Gay Old Party, at least not openly. The Republicans after suffering major defeats at the polls this month are looking for suggestions to move forward. I am sure you have plenty ideas of your own.

Here are some of my ideas (feel free to steal them) in your message to the GOP.

-Stop using gays and lesbians as a political wedge issue.

-Remove language from the party platform that seeks to eliminate rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

-Be more inclusive of the Log Cabin Republicans an (LGBT GOP organization).

-Less government means no constitutional amendments, and not policing what people do in their homes/bedrooms.

http://ideas.rebuildtheparty.com/

Virgil Goode (R-VA) - Ties to Gay Film Eden's Curve?

Republican congressman Virgil Goode of Virginia (rated 0% on LGBT rights by HRC) is under investigation by Mike Stark of Accountability Moments and by our friend Mike Rogers of BlogActive for an earmark scandal and possible connection to gay film Eden's Curve.



BlogActive and Accountability Moments is asking us to take action:

STEP ONE: Click HERE to send an email to the state legislators in and near Goode's House district and send them this story. Ask them to ask Virgil Goode the following questions:

1. What exactly are the personal relationships between Virgil Goode, Linwood Duncan and Jerry Meadors?
2. How was this earmark connected to Linwood Duncan’s acting break?
3. How does Virgil Goode square his condemnation of gay and lesbian Americans while helping to make Eden’s Curve?
4. How many other films exploring gay issues has Virgil Goode been involved with?
5. Can we gain access to the records that document how the $150,000 earmark was spent?

STEP 2: Please help us put a copy of this movie with -- printed background information -- in every pastor's mailbox in the district. Shouldn't the right wing, family values crowd know what Virgil Goode is up to? Shouldn't voters in Goode's district want these questions answered?

The GOP Wants to Hear from You!

The Grand Old Party (GOP - AKA Republicans) wants to hear from ordinary citizens like YOU about their 2008 platform.

http://www.gopplatform2008.com/

You can submit a text entry or video entry with your input on what the party's position should be moving forward.

Some possible talking points are, but not limited to:

-Supporting a repeal on Don't Ask Don't Tell.

-Stop using same-sex marriage as a wedge issue, and to either come out in favor of it or to atleast stop calling for a constitutional amendment banning it.

-Support same-sex couple adoption rights.

-Support domestic partnerships/civil unions for gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans couples.

-Support comprehensive safe-sex education (including proper information on LGBT issues and HIV prevention.

-Support funding HIV/AIDS research and outreach on and to MSM populations who need it most.