Gay conservatives explain their support for both Mitt Romney and marriage between gay couples. (Not buying any of it)
Filmed at a party for gay conservatives during the Republican National Convention in Tampa. BuzzFeed talked with Chris Barron and Jimmy LaSalvia, the co-founders of GOProud, the host organization for the party. My brain has trouble comprehending what they say. How about you? Please leave comments below.
They’ve promised “change from within” for 20+ years, and it’s only gotten worse within their party.
I’m gay and fiscally conservative. As for the issue of same sex marriage I believe the federal government does not have the right to discriminate. How ever- it’s not an important issue to me at all and I will not vote for a party that seems to have no understanding on how the economy works.
As for a minority group we have a lot of problems with division and intolerance. We’ll never get anything accomplished this way. I resent and despise the douche bags that act “loud and proud” yelling at shoppers outside Targets and throwing glitter on elected officials and stage make-out sessions on certain restaurants parking lots and all in the name of gay rights. Please, STOP! You’re making all of us look bad and if you think this will help change peoples minds and earn us rights then, well, I just don’t think you’ve thought that through very well. And how are we going to change the minds of others when we’re so intolerant of people in our own gay community? Whether it’s because we don’t wear the right clothes, or listen to the right music, or we’re too thin or too thick, or are hairy or shaved, or we vote on way or the other, or ones religious beliefs, or etc. I think it’s great as a country and as our gay community that we’re diverse. I’m a bit tired of feeling like an outcast because of my political beliefs. The gay community has never been very friendly and welcoming to me for one reason or another. I like design and foreign dance music and hairy dudes and fashion just like a lot of us but I’m tired of being outcasted because I vote Republican, or because my design is industrial/modern/organic, or my music isn’t Lady Gaga, or I’m too skinny to be a bear and too hairy for anyone else, and because I don’t wear Holister and A&F.
All I’m trying to say is I like people for who they are and if we don’t agree on everything I’ll still be your friend if you wanted. And it’s more than a little rude and damaging to say Gay Republicans make you ill. If we’re going to accomplish anything we need to band together and become an open and accepting community and then talk to apposing sides intellectually, openly, and respectfully.
Nikolas – I love how you attack gay people for having a problem with “division and intolerance” while glossing over the party THAT HAS IT IN THEIR PLATFORM.
Also, what understanding about how the economy works did Republicans have when they controlled Congress and the White House from 1/2001 to 1/2007. Or when Reagan or Bush I were president. Please explain.
Finally, when you spend your life with someone, but the federal government won’t recognize your relationship, and when you or your partner/spouse dies, so the survivor has to pay taxes on 50% of joint assets, get back to me about the “party that seems to have no understanding on how the economy works.”
Reagan was one of the best financial presidents we’ve ever had. Seriously- everyone knows that. Bush was a big government guy but still spent less than Obama has in only 4 years.
The Republican Party is “evolving” with their ideas on “Gay Rights”. Example- New York state never would have same-sex marriage without Republican vote. I think some of you forget that even some democrats don’t think same-sex partners should be able to marry.
But that doesn’t matter. It also doesn’t matter that President Clinton signed the original Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act! But he’s “evolved” as well. And that’s my point. People of all religions and political parties are capable of “evolving” and I just do not believe the Democratic Party, and least of all President Obama, are capable of fixing the economy. And Governor Romney signed the first repeal of a ban on same-sex marriage in 2004! So maybe he says he’s against it now but so said Obama until last spring.
So what I am hearing you saying is that we should be accepting of all gays, except those flaming ones that don’t conform to hetero standards because we are making you look bad in front of your new socially conservative pals? BTW, if other gay people won’t accept you, it’s probably not your body type or hirsuitness or your taste in clothes and music or your political beliefs. You are probably just a douche.
No, Rick, I’m saying that if we want to move forward then acting offensive isn’t the correct way. I have plenty of friends and family that are liberal and even they think such attacks and protests are offensive and non effective. And I’m not saying all gay people don’t like me but either way I’m sure a gem like you and I would be besties.
Define “offensive.”
Harassing people outside Target, throwing anything at elected officials, name calling towards people that work at certain institutions, etc. Obviously.
I find Chris Barron’s position outrageously hypocritical. If he actually believed in his own party’s ideology he would never have gotten married in Washington D.C. Which party does he think made it possible for him to marry his partner? I can assure him that not only does his party NOT want him to be able to marry (they’d love to make same-sex marriage illegal in all 50 states), but it has gone out of its way to thwart all social acceptance for gay Americans by painting gay people as anti-family and anti-religious. If the Republican party didn’t exist, I seriously doubt that DADT or DOMA would have been enacted; and the “family values” conservatives are also responsible for the 30+ constitutional amendments that have made sure that gay citizens will NEVER be considered equal members of society. How anyone can support a group that LITERALLY despises them, is beyond my comprehension.
I have no problem with being a gay and a conservative. I have a HUGE problem with being gay and voting republican and/or supporting the republican party. It’s a party built on bigotry and fraud. It’s not a conservative party, and any gay man who believes republicans are conservative or that they are worthy of their vote is a disgustingly stupid individual. These gay people should have their cards revoked immediately. They make me sick.
It should be re-titled to:
How To Be The New Uncle Tom!