Gay group to cosponsor 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference

Think for a minute about what the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) represents -- for the most part, a gathering of not mainstream conservatives of the reasonable sort, but a convention that showcases some of the most virulent anti-gay, anti-left fringe members of the right. Let's just say that the presence of past keynoters -- Rush, Ann Coulter -- and groups like the Family Research Council sponsoring it, CPAC is hardly the place to be if you're out and proud and expecting validation.

Look at this press release that landed in my inbox -- a gay org beaming with PRIDE of a different kind -- its sponsorship of CPAC.

For Immediate Release
December 8, 2009
Contact:Christopher Barron
CapSouth Consulting
(202) 286-4533
cbarron@capsouthdc.com

GOProud to Cosponsor CPAC 2010

Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director – “GOProud is thrilled to be a cosponsor of the single most important conservative gathering in the country.”

 Today, GOProud, the only national organization for gay conservatives and their allies, announced they are a cosponsor of CPAC 2010.  Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud’s Executive Director, said, “GOProud is thrilled to be a cosponsor of the single most important conservative gathering in the country.” 

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) will take place February 18-20 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.  “GOProud’s participation at CPAC is one of the most important things we will do all year,” continued LaSalvia.  “This gathering of the nation’s most influential conservatives gives us an incredible opportunity to deliver our message.”

“GOProud looks forward to continuing to work with the conservative movement to promote policies that will improve the lives of all Americans – including gays and lesbians,” concluded LaSalvia.

###

GOProud represents gay conservatives and their allies.  GOProud is committed to a traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy.  GOProud promotes our traditional conservative agenda by influencing politics and policy at the federal level.  PO Box 15861, Washington, DC 20003.  For more information visit our website www.goproud.org

As I've said many time before, I may not align with sane conservatives on a lot of issues, but I at least respect the ideal of small and limited government, such as privacy rights, and have said many times that LGBTs need to have representation in both parties in order to achieve equality faster. But as Andrew Sullivan and Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs noted in their drop-kicks of the current conservative movement, it has been taken over by the theocrats, flat-earthers and teabagging bigots -- and sadly there's no end in sight.

Why is GOProud still clinging to the hope that they can "work from within" to effect change? I suppose someone has to keep trying to save the GOP from itself, but it's depressing how there are some members of our community that continue the self-flagellation for the entertainment of the fringe right.

Honestly, I predict once LGBTs have civil rights parity, you'll see many break off and go to the GOP simply because they are fiscal conservatives, right now many see no way to work for change from within a wingnut party. States have to be deep Blue before some of the Republicans approximate anything moderate.

Chris Johnson at DC Agenda has more.