Republican tough love

[Cannikin]

The GOP is not a lost cause, but its leaders’ determination to stab gay and lesbian citizens in the heart currently makes it impossible for this gay man and born-and-bred Republican to vote in their favor. The painful part is, why doesn’t my family understand that if they vote Republican without working to change the party, they’re stabbing me in the heart as well?

By Thom Metzger
An Advocate.com exclusive, posted February 12, 2004

I was raised in a multigenerational Republican home. My grandparents were members of the John Birch Society. My family socialized with party leaders, like our Republican member of Congress. My parents wrote lots of checks for conservative political causes. Politics were a part of most dinner conversations.

As a child, I helped pass out Republican campaign material and rode elephants in the annual parade in my hometown. This all influenced my early core beliefs: Nixon was innocent, Carter was awful, and Reagan was a savior. Some of my first jobs were internships in the office of another Republican member of Congress and working at the Republican National Committee. I have personalized photos taken with GOP leaders such as Strom Thurman and Dan Quayle.

Political conservatism is in my blood. So it was not easy for me to come out to my family and friends as a gay man. Still harder was it for me to come out as a Democrat. My family claims that my sexual orientation is in no way problematic. My loved ones have never faltered in their support of me or my partner or our “openly gay lifestyle.” However, my political conversion continues to be a source of great consternation.

However folks spin it, it’s about hatred of gays. The saleable argument du jour might involve “activist judges” or “family values” or “states rights” or “defending marriage.” But they all lead to the same point. These folks want gays and lesbians to go away. Social conservatives don’t want us marrying or adopting children. They don’t want us working with or for them. They don’t want us living down the street. They don’t want us worshiping with them.

They don’t want us around. Period.
http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/908/908_pro_republican.asp

[ithacan]

1. this is really important

the last election was SO close.

And Bush got the number of votes he did get only because he portrayed himself as a moderate.

Slowly but surely I think moderate voters, and voters who care about social issues (and who are not members of the religious right) are realizing the truth. If gay republicans are this p-o'd at Bush, this is just one more drip.

And it doesn't even require that the vote Dem. They only have to stay home and NOT vote for Shrub.

Hatred is right. The Republicans can only run on fear and hatred.

Kind of sad that what used to be the party of Lincoln has descended to these depths.

[BadGimp]

2. 1 more awakened Gay person - Former GOP'r

1,000,000 to go

[boobooday]

3. Bush came out too

Right after the election.

He ran as a "compassionate conservative" and then, after inauguration day, he became a "heartless, stingy bigot."

The people who were surprised weren't really paying attention.

But it is all clear now.

http://www.wgoeshome.com