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GOProud
FormationApril 15, 2009 (2009-04-15)
TypeGay conservatives
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.[1]
Region served
United States
Founders
Christopher R. Barron
Jimmy LaSalvia
WebsiteGOProud.org

GOProud is an American tax exempt 527 organization representing conservative gay men, lesbians, and their allies. GOProud advocates for small government conservatism at the level of federal public policy.[2] GOProud was founded by Christopher R. Barron and Jimmy LaSalvia, two former Log Cabin Republican staffers who expressed dissatisfaction at that organization's generally centrist political positions. GOProud has subsequently co-sponsored the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and have added political commentator/strategist Margaret Hoover, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist,[3] new media specialist Liz Mair,[4] political analyst Lisa De Pasquale, and political communications consultant Chuck Muth.[5]

GOProud affiliates

GOProud has affiliates in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. The Metroplex Republicans Dallas are also affiliated with GOProud.[6]

History

Jimmy LaSalvia and Christopher R. Barron co-founded GOProud on April 15, 2009. LaSalvia was the Director of Programs and Policy for the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay organization identifying with Republican ideals. Barron was the Political Director at Log Cabin Republicans before both men decided to leave with hopes of a creating a better organization that dealt with more conservative values. They wanted to focus on the issues of the conservative agenda not social issues, which Log Cabin Republicans dealt with. Barron and LaSalvia believe that same-sex marriage is a state issue and therefore wanted an organization that focused on the real conservative agenda.[7] Margaret Hoover, a member of the advisory council, added her opinion into the mix, "GOProud has helped force gays out of the conservative establishment-- what I would call the 'conser-va-gentsia'--to take on these self-anointed leaders of social conservatism." [8]

On October 21, 2010, GOProud became the first gay rights organization to release a campaign commercial against Democratic candidates.[9] The commercial, titled "The Real Democrats of Washington, D.C.", specifically targets openly gay Representative Barney Frank, as well as Senator Barbara Boxer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.[10]

CPAC 2010

Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States invited GOProud to its 2010 conference. The Family Research Council was the first to start an uproar and boycott CPAC over the GOProud invite.[11] Groups that followed the FRC in boycotting included the Concerned Women for America, American Principles Project, Center for Military Readiness, Liberty Council, and National Organization for Marriage.[12] These conservative groups worry that adding gays will weaken the movement.

During a panel at the 2010 CPAC, Alexander McCobin, co-founder and executive director of Students For Liberty, opened his remarks by thanking the American Conservative Union for welcoming GOProud as a co-sponsor of the event. Ryan Sorba, chairman of the California Young Americans for Freedom and author of The "Born Gay" Hoax, attempted to derail support for GOProud at CPAC. During his speech at the convention, he condemned GOProud for entering the conference but was eventually booed by the audience.[7]

Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and Vice Presidential Candidate, and Sharron Angle, 2010 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, joined the fight in support of GOProud. Palin commended CPAC by saying she is "always in favor of freedom" and that GOProud is included in the "different, diverse groups … involved in political discourse.” Angle told the Huffington Post, “We need to be very careful when we get to talk about our opinions and be inclusive.” [13]

Homocon 2010

Homocon was a meeting for GOProud members on September 25, 2010 in New York City. Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and GOProud donor, hosted the event at his home in the city. Ann Coulter was the headline speaker at this meeting. Coulter declared herself as the "right-wing Judy Garland". Christopher R. Barron, the co-founder had said, "Among gay conservatives, she is an icon. We could not think of anyone who we would want to party with more."[14]

Coulter told the audience that she did not support gay marriage and that marriage is not a civil right. Coulter also criticized sex education in schools. Barron defended Coulter against some critics, explaining, "Homocon 2010 was a complete and total success. GOProud set out to throw a great party, not hold a policy event, and that’s exactly what we did."[15]

"Don't ask, don't tell"

"Don't ask, don't tell" is a political issue and policy enacted in 1993. This policy allowed homosexuals to serve in the military as long as their sexual orientation was undisclosed. GOProud was an outspoken supporter of repealing the policy and made "don't ask, don't tell" a priority. In order to help reverse this policy, GOProud went after the politicians who wanted to reinstate or reverse the repeal.[16] Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota, and former 2012 candidate for the Republican nomination for President, spoke out about the policy. Pawlenty wanted a reversal of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell". GOProud made a public statement condemning Pawlenty.[17] Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania Senator and 2012 candidate for the Republican nomination for President, is another politician who would reinstate the policy if elected President. GOProud had also condemned these remarks made by the former Senator.[18]

Fabrizio outing

Founders LaSalvia, who is also Executive Director, and Barron outed gay pollster and Perry campaign adviser Tony Fabrizio over Rick Perry's "Strong" campaign ad, citing what they viewed as homophobic themes in the ad. LaSalvia also used a homophobic slur in his own tweet on the subject: "I've just about had it with faggots who line their pockets with checks from anti-gay homophobes while throwing the rest of us under the bus".[19] The ensuing fallout over the outing caused the late conservative media mogul Andrew Breitbart to resign from GOProud's board. This move has also caused controversy inside the group, with many top members expressing disagreement and disgust over the outing.[20]

2012 presidential election

On June 20, 2012, GOProud endorsed Mitt Romney for president although Romney opposes same sex marriage and civil unions, supports a federal marriage amendment banning same sex marriage, and supported strict gun control as Governor of Massachusetts. Romney supports limited domestic partnerships for same sex couples, same sex adoption, anti-discrimination laws for LGBT people at the state level, and has said he would not reinstate Don't Ask Don't Tell if he was elected president.

GOProud, the Log Cabin Republicans and Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry attended the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa. At Tampa GOProud held the 2012 Homocon.

Political positions

The top ten issues concerning GOProud include:[21]

GOProud endorsed Mitt Romney for president in 2012, despite co-founder Christopher Barron's own support for Gary Johnson for president.[23] GOProud also endorsed Paul Ryan,[24] former Governor Tommy Thompson,[25] Charles Djou,[26] Carly Fiorina, Mark Kirk, Sean Bielat, Richard Hanna, Mary Bono Mack, Joe Heck, Linda McMahon, Kelly Ayotte, Ron Johnson, Dino Rossi and Tom Coburn.[27]

While GOProud doesn't have an official position on abortion,[28] GOProud has attended anti-abortion rallies[29] and Christopher Barron said that "I want pro-life gays to know they have a home here."[30] Jimmy LaSalvia is pro-life and warned the gay community should be pro-life because of the threat of selective abortions of gay fetuses.[31]

Ann Coulter said she got GOProud to take its support of same sex marriage out of its platform.[32] GOProud does not have a stance of same sex marriage other than leaving it to the states. GOProud also has no position on Employment Nondiscrimination Act and opposes hate-crime legislation.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mcgurn, William (2009-04-14). "Gay, Proud and Conservative". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ "GOProud mission statement". Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  3. ^ "Board of Directors & Advisory Council". Goproud.org. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  4. ^ "New Media Specialist Liz Mair to Join GOProud's Advisory Council". Goproud.org. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  5. ^ Chris Geidner (2011-02-12). "For GOProud, Tammy Bruce Is Out And Former ACU Executive Director Chuck Muth Is In - Poliglot". Metroweekly.com. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  6. ^ Metroplex Republicans Dallas
  7. ^ a b Zeller, Shawn. "Out But In: New Strategy For Conservative Status." CQ Weekly 68.27 (2010): 1610-1611. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.
  8. ^ "A New Conservative Agenda." Advocate 1051 (2011): 7-8. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.
  9. ^ "GOProud Unveils Television Advertising Campaign Targeting Barney Frank, Barbara Boxer and Congressional Democrats". Goproud.org. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  10. ^ "Real Democrats of Washington DC". YouTube. 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  11. ^ "New GOP Gay Group Promotes Conservative Philosophy." Contemporary Sexuality 45.4 (2011): 9. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.
  12. ^ Valerie Richardson, The Washington Times. "CPAC Meeting Raises Gay Issue." Washington Times, The (DC) (2010): 3. Regional Business News. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.
  13. ^ "Gay rights groups ignore - Sarah Palin - GOProud hits back". The Daily Caller. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  14. ^ Holson, Laura. "Not Done Yet." The New York Times p1(LifeStyle) Oct. 10, 2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2011
  15. ^ "Statement on Homocon 2010". Goproud.org. 2010-09-27. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  16. ^ "Guess Who's Coming to CPAC?: GOProud has taken the conservative and LGBT movements by storm by being brash, loud and uncompromisingly conservative - and just as uncompromisingly gay". Metroweekly.com. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  17. ^ Advocate.com Editors. "GOProud Slams Pawlenty Over DADT". The Advocate. Retrieved 2011-12-05. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ Lavender, Paige (2011-09-23). "Rick Santorum Condemned By Gay Rights Group GOProud For DADT Debate Comments". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  19. ^ "Tony Fabrizio, Rick Perry's Top Pollster, Is Gay: GOProud Leader". Huffington Post. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  20. ^ "GOProud Outs Rick Perry Adviser After Antigay Ad". Newsy. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  21. ^ http://www.goproud.org/page.aspx?pid=349
  22. ^ "Federal Legislative Priorities". Goproud.org. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  23. ^ http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/20/3068272/
  24. ^ http://www.goproud.org/pages/news--press/2012/goproud-praises-selection-of-rep.-paul-ryan-r-wi-for-vice-president
  25. ^ https://www.goproud.org/pages/news--press/2012/goproud-endorses-former-governor-tommy-thompson-for-u.s.-senate-in-wisconsin
  26. ^ http://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/2010/06/01/defense-charles-djou
  27. ^ https://www.dallasvoice.com/goprouds-2010-endorsements-where-are-the-individual-freedom-loving-conservatives-1050565.html
  28. ^ http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=163043690393343&id=163006257063753
  29. ^ http://regator.com/p/254663861/goproud_attends_anti-abortion_march/
  30. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123966833747115385.html
  31. ^ http://www.tbd.com/blogs/amanda-hess/2010/11/goproud-jimmy-lasalvia-talks-abortion--4846.html
  32. ^ http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7582&MediaType=1&Category=26
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