Have Gays Found Their Place in the GOP?

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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A memorable moment at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference could mark a turning point in the long-fraught relationship between gays and the Republican Party.

CPAC is perhaps the nation's premiere conservative gathering, a convivial opportunity for impassioned right-wing activists to network, plan for upcoming elections and listen to the biggest names in the conservative movement. It's the sort of atmosphere in which the casual observer might expect someone like Ryan Sorba to receive a warm welcome.

Sorba, who wrote a book entitled "The Gay Gene Hoax," took the podium at this year's CPAC and immediately expressed his unhappiness that the conference had allowed a gay Republican group called GOProud to be a sponsor.

He didn't get very far. After delivering a rambling condemnation of homosexuality, Sorba was essentially booed offstage, prompting him to angrily complain to his conservative audience that "the lesbians at Smith College protest better than you do."

Gay Republicans say it was a telling moment: Evidence that the GOP is "moving away from a negative hate-based connotation with homosexuals in the Republican party," according to Charles T. Moran, spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay Republican group.

"The conservative movement is so focused on the issues that bring us together -- limited government, personal responsibility and freedom -- that the social issues have kind of gotten pushed off to the side," he said. "Even the Tea Party movement - these people are not talking about social issues."

That isn't to say there hasn't been controversy: Liberty University Law School pulled its sponsorship of the event over GOProud's inclusion as a sponsor, and the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer said following the conference that true conservatives should abandon CPAC for the AFA's Values Voter Summit, where organizers believe "that protecting one man - one woman marriage is the most fundamental conservative value of all."

But Jimmy LaSalvia, the executive director of GOProud, said his group was largely welcomed at CPAC, particularly after the Sorba incident.

"The most notable thing about CPAC is that the American Conservative Union makes a concerted effort to make sure young people are there," he said. "And that room was full of people who are under 30 years old."

While polls suggest young Americans have not moved leftward on abortion, there has been a clear shift, even among conservatives, toward greater tolerance of homosexuality. (Last year Meghan McCain, a gay marriage supporter, told the Log Cabin Republicans that "old school Republicans" are "scared s**tless" of the changing landscape.) Discussing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy with ABC News earlier this month, former Vice President Dick Cheney said he expected repeal.

"The society has moved on," he said. "It's partly a generational question."

GOProud's LaSalvia is a strong backer of Cheney, and along with others in his organization is backing a "Draft Cheney 2012" Web site. He says he agrees with the former vice president on his support for state-by-state same-sex marriage as well as Cheney's positions on national security and other issues.

(AP)

"The greatest threat to gay and lesbian people across the globe is the spread of radicalized Islam, and the Obama administration playing footsie with [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad or any other brutal dictator is not good for gay people," he said.

Moran of the Log Cabin Republicans said that people had begun to stop seeing a contradiction between being conservative and openly gay.

"Do not assume that just because we support equality issues we support a big government agenda of government takeover of health care, labor unions, climate change mumbo jumbo," he said, adding that his group is working to "break those assumptions."

Mathew Staver, dean of the evangelical Liberty University School of Law and founder and chair of the Liberty Counsel, says that he and his allies "certainly don't support the idea that anybody would be eliminated from the political process because of their sexual orientation."

But he said Liberty University School of Law felt compelled to pull its sponsorship from CPAC over GOProud's support for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and other policies.

"Those are not conservative policies, and they are not supported by the Republican Party," he said, noting that the GOP continues to oppose a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal as well as same-sex marriage and hate crimes protections based on gender identity. "I welcome all people being part of the conversation, but I also think that just because of your individual orientation, it does not mean that we change the values that conservatives support."

Asked if he was disappointed with Sorba's reception, Staver noted that Ron Paul won the CPAC straw poll of 2012 presidential candidates - evidence, he suggested, that those in the room were not "reflective of the conservative movement or the Republican Party."

Republicans have largely shied away from gay rights issues over the past year, including in the campaigns of Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown and the party's two successful gubernatorial candidates, New Jersey's Chris Christie and Virginia's Bob McDonnell. (The latter aggressively played 2003 down remarks that "certain homosexual conduct" could disqualify someone to serve as a judge, opting instead for a relentless focus on jobs and fiscal issues.) Though he identifies as a "social and fiscal conservative," the candidate generating the most excitement on the right at the moment -- Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio -- focuses largely on fiscal issues in his speeches.

"They've all run their campaigns on the issues that people care about when they sit down at night at the kitchen table," said LaSalvia, arguing that Republicans have little incentive to try to score points by discussing gays and lesbians in the current political landscape. "It's a political winner to focus on other issues."

[shamgar50]

GOP suddenly loves Gays. Hmmmmmmmmm. Can you say midterms, and Republicans need every vote they can get? If you're Gay, just remember one thing, Dems. and Liberals have supported Gay rights for years. Republicans just want your vote.

[strangeworld]

"If they can get past this issue they will get the young generation and it is over for the Libs."

LOL Don't you think that young people are just a little concerned about republicans depressing wages, sending jobs overseas, cutting student financial aid, ending public education, and the overall bigotry and intolerance that defines the modern GOP? You're in lala land if you think that gay intolerance is the only reason that young adults are not voting for the GOP.

[otispage]

http://www.newtimesslo.com/commentary/4042/confession-of-a-homophobe-/

[otispage]

Recognizing this, it is highly probable that there will be a societal acceptance and legal recognition of homosexuality. But, here is the problem as far as acceptance is concerned:
First of all, if societal acceptance and legal recognition is established, the charges of homophobia made against those who oppose homosexuality will become mute. But will this mean the future charges of homophobia will truly end? What are the factors that dictate the tactic of accusing people of homophobia will continue?
This frames the issue: With homosexuality being legally recognized and accepted by society, what excuse does a heterosexual have in not indulging in same-sex sexual excursions? None, because the approval substantially provides an endorsement of same-sex sexual activities, whether gay, lesbian or bisexual! Coincidently, this endorsement includes promiscuous sex as celebrated in Gay Pride events, where homosexuals convincingly demonstrate their philosophy that in sexual matters anything goes.
So, why shouldn?t heterosexuals get on board? And, if they don?t -- well, that appears to beg the following questions:
Will people in the secular and religious domains, who were opposed, who now accept the Homosexual Agenda in the name of tolerance, continue to be called homophobes if they actually do not embrace and deny participating in same-sex sexual practices ? the same-sex sexual behaviors of gays, lesbians and bisexuals?
Should homosexuals relent from their militancy and be satisfied assuming they succeed? Or will they insist heterosexuals acknowledge and accept and do what they do sexually? Will a denial to do what they do sexually constitute continued charges of homophobia?
Asked still another way, at the risk of belaboring the point: With the societal and legal acceptance of homosexuality, would a refusal to participate in homosexuals acts (Sodomy) be considered a homophobic bias and an act of intolerance?
So what does all of this mean?
If the homosexual agenda is successful and becomes reality, what are the consequences for heterosexuals and, especially, young people?
It is reasonable to conclude that a heterosexual?s refusal to not actually indulge in same-sex sexual behavior would be the basis of being accused, again, of homophobia. Criticism by heterosexuals may even become illegal!
But, what about those religious folks who adhere to the Bible?s teachings that condemns same-sex sexual relations? Religious objections may sustain a given religion?s position against homosexual practices, but it ends there. They will have limited power to discourage same-sex sexual activities, especially in the secular domain of our schools. And this leads to the question, what about the kids?
The major implication for many young people is they will increasingly experiment with same-sex sex as a consequence. That is where a certain monstrous social issue resides - for once the moral divide is crossed, there may not be a turning back ? especially when turning back may be called a manifestation of homophobia. Young people ? the future generations of citizens and leaders - will be cast on the altar of sexual permissiveness ? where not just anything, everything goes.
Otis Page Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 805-489-5811

[valwayne]

While the Democrats continue to betray all their pretty promises to end discrimination against gay men and women former VP Dick Cheney supports getting rid of don't ask don't tell, and CPAC boos and anti-gay bigot off the stage. Until the Democrats let gay men and women out of the back of the bus and end Obama's status as our Discriminator and Chief, gay men and women shouldn't give 1 penny or 1 vote to the lying betrying Democrats!!! By the way Mr. Sorba sets off the gay radar big big time. It typically takes a closeted self hater to generate the energy it take to sustain such vociferous hatred regarding other other human beings who have done noone harm. Good for the Republicans and Conservatives of CPAC!!!!!

[danceswithtrees]

Great article and SO TRUE. We Conservatives have bigger fish to fry. (spending, deficit reduction, limited Government) Most of us do not care who you love or make love to. We want us all to have equal rights and don't care if you are gay or straight. Black or white. Fat or thin, etc... it is SOLELY the content of your character. Do you add to to the equation or take, THAT is all that matters. Go GOP and CPAC , nice to see them join the twenty first century. If they can get past this issue they will get the young generation and it is over for the Libs.

[7colorado]

The biggest myth in America is that Republicans are fiscally conservative. Anyone who cares to take an honest look at the record since Reagan will see that the Government spending and debt always increase with Republicans administrations. Check out this graph:
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

[wtpshow_com]

Check out our interview with Ryan Sorba: http://www.wtpshow.com/interviews/.

[cleric60]

Have Gays Found Their Place in the GOP?....in the men's room????

[wliebkem]

The conservative movement is taking a strong turn towards libertarianism, which supports equal treatment of gays and gay marriage. Those who seek to restrict homosexual's right to call themselves married or any other right that a homosexual chooses to exercise that does not specifically and directly impinge on the rights of others is against liberty and should be rejected by the conservative movement just as Sorba was. They claim to stand for freedom and liberty - oh, except if you do not agree with their "morals," as if politicians should be a source of morality for anyone. These guys have a right to their opinion, but I have a right to boo them off the stage and not invite them next year.

CPAC chose Ron Paul as their top nominee, a die hard anti-war libertarian. Many conservatives do not want to be judgmental of others, but would rather that the progress that we work towards is progress for the advancement of the human race, and not "progress" towards big government-enforced social and economic homogenization. They want to preserve the economic viability of our country by spending carefully and thoughtfully - and that includes restraining national defense and not just entitlements.

There will always be scumbags in both parties, whether it be John Edwards or this guy Sorba. Politicians tend not to be the most well-balanced or rational people, and concentrating ever-increasing power on them is a mistake.

The conservatives at this rally roundly rejected this idiot's homophobia, and almost every comment here condemns the attendees. What you should have said is, "good for them, it's about time!"

[shamgar50]

They just want the Gay vote. They don't care about Gay rights. So no at a boy from here.
Funny, you say " as if politicians should be a source of morality for anyone", and then call Edwards a scumbag. While I don't agree with what he did, it in no way compares with being a bigot.

[starving1968-3]

by jackfluffy February 24, 2010 7:01 PM EST
Mr. Sorba clearly has some serious issues. As in mental problems.






Well, yeah!!

He's a conservative!!