The reality is that sadly the gay left has completely abandoned any effort to change hearts and minds. Instead of talking to people about our lives, our families, our beliefs, and our values, the gay left has taken the easy way out – preferring to attack, criticize, and demonize those who may disagree on with us on issues like marriage. Instead of working to win new friends, the gay left seems hell bent on creating new enemies. … Last night, I made the case to hundreds of Farah’s supporters that GOProud and our grassroots members share their conservative values. I spoke about our commitment to free market economic policies, our belief in the power of the individual, our unwavering support for a strong and confident foreign policy, and about our shared values of faith and family. I hope I made the case that there was much more that united as conservatives in that room then divided us – and that even on those issues where we did disagree, we could respect and honor those differences. I can tell you with absolute certainty that GOProud did more to try win the hearts and minds of those who matter in that one night, then [sic] all of Gay, Inc. has done in a decade. I can also tell you with absolute certainty, that GOProud is the only gay organization – conservative or liberal – that is doing the hard work of changing hearts and minds.
—Christopher Barron, chairman of GOProud, reflecting on his debate last night with World Net Daily chief Joseph Farah
Tom in Lazybrook
Actually Barron and HRC are both similar in one respect. GOProud opposes every candidate that publically supports DADT repeal now. GOProud opposes ENDA. GOProud opposes DOMA repeal. GOProud opposes partnership inclusion in UAFA.
HRC simply mismanages their ‘support’ of these Gay priorities so badly that nothing gets done.
The result is the same.
Cam
So tell me, how has GOProud done in changing the “Hearts and Minds” of Senators Snowe and Collins in Maine? They are the two republicans most likely to support a repeal and yet apparently they aren’t doing it. So again, just what exactly have they done to help?
Remember, in the year 2000, 40% of the state of Alabama still voted to keep an out of date law on the books that outlawed interracial marriage. Even though the law was superceded by Federal law. It wasn’t changing the “Hearts and Minds” of people in Alabama that got minorities rights there, it was the courts forcing bigots to deal with other human beings as equals even though they didn’t want to.
Charlie
We do share our values with straight people. That’s why thousands attend pride parades.
Flipper
@Cam: You are so correct. Naturally, I’d like to think that all people will embrace equality because it’s just the right thing to do, but I could frankly not care less if my neighbor’s heart or mind hasn’t been “changed” in this way. I just want to see our government, through whatever branch has the chutzpah to do it, apply our laws equally to all, and let the bigots deal with their own issues.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
You can read how the event went down at WND:
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=204941
Continue reading to see what attendees really thought about Mr. Barron’s belief that he “changed hearts and minds”. This man is sadly delusioanl, if he thinks the right will ever come around on queer equality.
FreddyMertz
He makes a good point..however it’s fail..to the hearts and minds that is.
Roger Rabbit
Yeah, and the reason it is a fail is that the Right is filled with people coming from a religious viewpoint that being gay is a SIN against their GOD. It is useless to attempt to appease to similarities between them and gays because they will continue to stand there and repeat that they don’t care about any of that. They only care that we leave them alone because we are an affront to everything that they believe.
You can’t fight that. My family is that way, and even though they love me they will continue to vote against my rights. My friend’s family even attended his legal wedding in California and then voted for Prop 8. There is nothing we can do to change them.
We must continue to let them know we are their family members AND vote AGAINST those legislators that do not share our ideals. So with that, I just don’t understand what GoProud and Log Cabin thinks they are accomplishing (except for self depreciation?)
Zed
needs another [sic], or just to be corrected.
I hope I made the case that there was much more that united as conservatives in that room *then* divided us
atypicalG
@Mr. Enemabag Jones:
HA! hahahaha. Did you just cite an article on WND’s website to prove your point that Mr. Barron’s claims that he “changed hearts and minds” were false?? WND’s CEO is Mr. Farah. Do you honestly think any article AGREEING with Mr. Barron (thus DISagreeing with Mr. Farah) would show up on that website?? Mr. Farah’s only reason for doing the debate was to discredit Mr. Barron and GOProud. Who, again, is “sadly delusional”????
GOProud gets so much crap every time they show up on Queerty. Why? Gay = Democrat? Republican = anti-gay? Being gay doesn’t define the individual. If it did we’d all be prancing around like that ass Perez.
wompman
The arrogance of that clay-faced douche-nozzle is stunning. The “gay left” has amassed every bit of support for any gay rights while he and those like him cowered in a closet counting their cash. There is plenty of work to do, but the grandstanding of this fool accomplishes absolutely nothing.
And yes, it is very important to reach out and with useless politicians and impotent gay “leaders” we all have to be out for ourselves. GOProud deserves the scorn they get, for the scorn they show gay people time and time again. The extreme religous right has neither the “heart or mind” to change, so why bother with the freaks from worldnutdaily to begin with?
vinnyc
In other news, Guys, I was invited to Tea party with the Red queen down the rabbit hole. It was a huge success for all the above dwellers. Reigning on this success i also met the Snow queen in the Arctic and was surprised to warm her cold heart.
Of course none of these comes even closer to Barron and Goproud and his astounding success in winning the Hearts of the Rightwingnuts.
Just thought you guys would throw some appreciation for my hardwork too.