Goodbye Gay Conservatives, Don't Let the Door Hit You On the Way Out

In response to mounting criticism of gay conservatives, Dale Carpenter, a prominent gay writer, is threatening to bolt the movement. In a recent column, he spoke of his "rising anger" with the way gay advocates treat his ideological brethren. Of course, we know this is a bluff because Carpenter and other gay conservatives have nowhere else to go. They are dependent on the very liberalism they condescendingly deride and rejected by the very political party they claim to be a part of.

What is notable about Carpenter's tirade, is how it is at odds with his often intelligent columns. He regularly offers sharp legal critiques and prescient political analysis. However, when discussing gay conservatism, Carpenter uncharacteristically becomes irrational, falling into an undeserved victimhood that is a hallmark of gay Republicans.

For example, Carpenter is upset because Jonathan Crutchley, the co-founder of the gay cruising site Man Hunt, was skewered after giving a contribution to John McCain. Carpenter surmises that there is a witch hunt because of Crutchley's political affiliation. This is not true. If he were just another gay business owner, no one would care whom he contributed to. However, it is preposterous for a man whose commodity is sodomy to give money to a candidate who wants to appoint Supreme Court Justices who would be in favor of outlawing gays from having consensual sexual relations. It is this type of cognitive dissonance that earns gay conservatives such deserved contempt.

Republicans in Congress have blocked gay rights progress for nearly three decades. It was President George W. Bush who stumped for a Federal Marriage Amendment. It was Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott who once compared gay people to kleptomaniacs and alcoholics. I could fill 10 columns with despicable acts and words lobbed at the GLBT community by members of the Republican Party. While the Democrats are not perfect (see Sam Nunn), anyone who compares the two parties is smoking something that has higher street, than political value.

The modern Republican Party was molded by President Nixon's "southern strategy" and built by Ronald Reagan, a president who ignored the AIDS crisis. It has been home to horrendous bigots, such as Sen. Jesse Helms, Rep. Bob Dornan, commentator Pat Buchanan and Vice President Dan Quayle -- who pushed the term "family values," which notably did not include GLBT families.

In 1988, Republican Pat Robertson ran for president. Robertson lost, but he amassed a huge mailing list, which was transformed into the Christian Coalition. Under the leadership of Ralph Reed, this organization married the Republican Party and this list is today referred to as "The Base."

As long as this crowd is on speed-dial to the White House, gay conservatives are a politically powerless sideshow. This group should be boisterously rooting for a collapse of the GOP, so the party can be rebuilt from scratch as an inclusive entity.

The core problem with Carpenter's arguments, is that he invokes a mythical conservatism that is fighting a liberal straw man. The small government party that wants to keep out of peoples' bedrooms is dead. It has been replaced by a brand of Republicanism represented by Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Bush. Not only are these politicians anti-gay busybodies, but they aren't even fiscally conservative. In 2009, America is projected to run a half-trillion dollar deficit, plummeting from the seven hundred billion surplus under Bill Clinton.

The issue I have with gay conservatives is that they consistently subjugate GLBT concerns. This is revealed when Carpenter says that "we disagree" with the movements "most visible activists...about how much weight should be given to purely gay issues in a time of economic and military turmoil."

I wasn't aware that Congress had to choose between the economy and protecting GLBT people from job discrimination. I had no idea that passing a hate crime law might hinder our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Apparently, Carpenter and other conservatives think they should get to the back of the line and wait for their rights to be doled out at a time of peace and prosperity (when Democrats are in the White House, I presume).

The truth is, I agree more with Dan Quayle than gay conservatives like Dale Carpenter. Family Values actually do matter and I will not apologize for placing the protection of my family above tax cuts for the very wealthy. Carpenter does not like it when gay conservatives are called self-loathing, but what else can one call people who don't prioritize legal protection for themselves and the ones they love?

If Carpenter and other gay conservatives leave the movement, nothing will really change. Gay progressives will still be doing the lion's share of the work, while conservatives will enjoy the privileges of their newfound freedom, while complaining about those who are largely responsible for their liberty.

Follow Wayne Besen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Truthwinout

Comments

[ProgressiveVoice]

Sir, you really hit the nail on the head. It goes far beyond just gay conservatives or gay and black conservatives - doesn't that have to be oxymoronic?

For more than four years I have been wondering where the hell the mainstream Republicans are and how can they sit by and watch their party destroy the Constitution, economy and working people. I don't believe the vast majority of Republicans believe much of the muck and hate the GOP has been spewing. I don't believe they support this president, his administrations or his actions anymore than I do. So why haven't they taken their party back from the extreme right wing?

I AM glad so many of them are choosing to vote for Obama; I wish they would reform the GOP. We need to have two parties, at least, that are actual opposition parties not the Extreme-Right Party and their faithful followers, the Demo-weenies.

[kanester]

Until "w" hit the scene, I used to feel half-sorry, half-disgusted for gay conservatives. But as one gets older, you either grow and learn or you stagnate ... the point is, unlike sexual orientation, this process IS a choice. Grow up and be proud of your choice to limit your personal development to half your potential (as a conservative) or change it (party, not sexuality).
Plus, your point is well-taken ... in American, queer republicans have two choices -- GOP or NONE (sure, libertarianism is a real force!)
Carpenter's ability to twist personal justifications probably also make him a bad choice to teach law since it is "law" and not his "opinion."

[lovable]

somebody send this to lesbian talk show host tammy bruce who just loves conservatives

[dcg4mn]

Probably the most cogent article I've seen on this issue, thank you Wayne. Self-loathing is undeniable in gay Republicans, as I believe is true for black Republicans as well - witness how angry and resentful Clarence Thomas always is. It's both sad and astonishing to see such a deep lack of self-awareness. Both groups are in denial that they are so obviously used and manipulated by Republicans so they can attempt to claim diversity, while in reality Republicans vote against their civil rights and empowerment every single chance they get. Meanwhile, every election cycle including the current one shows yet again the fear, demagoguery, and outright racism that Republicans whip up and exploit.
Even the ancient excuse that Republicans are somehow better on economic issues has not been true since at least 1980.
It is clear they are selfishly voting their wallets and every other issue be damned.
The highest income tax rate has been significantly lowered since the 1960s, yet it is never low enough for conservatives; like far too many Americans they have no sense of social responsibility - they demand services but don't want to pay for them.

[Glenn1441]

Well done, Mr. Besen. Very well done.

[Azieran]

I really think it comes down to this, gay Republicans are more concerned with their wallets than with their own rights. I hope I never become the type of person that worships money as so many "conservatives" do. And if it isn't money-love that keeps them voting for Presidents that won't even meet with them (which I find hillarious in a sadly pathetic way) then it must be fear-mongering (we gotta attack them before they attack us...) since fear and tax cuts are the only things that Republicans offer.