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

Meghan McCain - Republican Advocate for Same-Sex Marriage!

Meghan McCain the daughter of failed presidential candidate John McCain has been making the airwaves lately for her liberal stance on social issues, like her support for gay marriage. It all started with her post on the Daily Beast which sparked the now media frenzy. A self proscribed "progressive republican" Ms. McCain hopes that the republican party can stop alienating people and come to the center on issues she describes as being a "generational divide".



Contact Meghan McCain and thank her for standing up for change, and speaking out in favor of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. While her words are simply words alone, they offer a great voice for the often silenced segment of the republican party of youth and those who support equality.

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/

Log Cabin Republicans are Vital to LGBT Liberation

In an interview on CNN prior to the election, Patrick Sammon of the Log Cabin Republicans makes a strong point that I agree with about working within the system:

"It's important to work from inside the party to make it better, because ultimately gay rights will be impossible to achieve unless there is support from both republicans and democrats"

Granted this blog proudly supported and is enthusiastic about the Obama win but in fairness to the spirit of our LGBT brothers and sisters who are trying to create reform and change for our lives in the republican party I think it is equally important for us to support their efforts to create change within the GOP.

http://online.logcabin.org/

Senator McConnell - Do You Have Any Skeletons in Your CLOSET?

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has a notoriously anti-gay voting record. Senator McConell scores a 0% percent from the Human Rights Campaign on LGBT issues. He has consistently voted for a same-sex marriage ban, against adding sexual orientation to hate crimes legislation and job employment non-discrimination acts.

Well, now people are calling for an investigation into his records as to why he was dismissed from the U.S. military. It is suspect that he may have been dismissed because of homosexual activity. Another closeted-republican hypocrite? Maybe.

The blog world is mixed on the decision to release this ad, because it is playing into voters fears and homophobia. Mike Rogers over at BlogActive writes "Why give what by many is seen to be homophobia by many any legs?" While Michelangelo Signorile over at The Gist sees it differently saying:"Yes, the people pushing it are no doubt trying to appeal to homophobia in many voters. But they are also appealing to my -- and presumably many Kentucky voters' -- desire not to have a hypocrite and liar in office. And that's not a bad thing."

As always activism has different tactics and opinions, we can all agree though that we want to see this anti-gay politician out of his bullying pulpit.

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

Republicans Against 8 - Reagan & Schwarzenegger both said NO to Anti-Gay Measures

Republicans Against 8: "It's Backwards"

New video from Republicans Against 8 fighting the California "marriage protection" amendment.

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?

Republicans Against 8 Video

http://www.republicansagainst8.com