The cheerleaders for gay Republican conservatives–that faithful band that stands true to the party in the face of every reality showing them the door–are putting down their pom poms. Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron, respectively the executive director and senior strategist for GOProud, are stepping away from day-to-day responsibilities at the organization they founded.
“It’s time. We don’t want it to get stale,” LaSalvia said. Of course, that would assume they were ever fresh.
GOProud did compile an amazing record, if by amazing you mean “jaw-droppingly stupid.” Some highlights:
- Barron endorsed American soldiers desecrating the bodies of dead Taliban soldiers
- LaSalvia “accidently” liked a Facebook comment from a user who joked about shooting President Obama
- A GOProud volunteer told a gay reporter covering a GOProud party that “I really don’t like gay people”
- The group finally got around to endorsing same-sex marriage last January, but only as a state-by-state effort because “we do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach on almost any issue and that includes relationship recognition for gay couples”
We could go on, but you get the idea.
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GOProud has been dining out on two things for the past several years. Firstly, there really are some conservatives who support gay rights, like Ann Coulter. That doesn’t make them any less douchy, however.
Secondly, and more importantly, GOProud was banned from the CPAC convention for two years in a row. CPAC is the right-wing jamboree, and GOProud’s forced exile got the organization a lot of attention as an example of the homophobia that is rampant in the Republican right. Except GOProud loves the Republican right.
In short, GOProud owes its fame to being thrown out of a party by the group of people who control the party that it loves. Got that?
None of this stopped GOProud from marching in lockstep with many of the party’s nominees. In 2012, GOProud endorsed an impressive array of candidates who had nothing in their voting records to recommend themselves to LGBT voters and in fact were openly antagonistic to gay concerns.
So, farewell to LaSalvia and Barron, although we’re sure they’ll be sticking around. The conservative movement pays its hacks well, so we’re confident the pair will pop up to sanctify some truly reprehensible types looking to deodorize their track record and look more moderate in elections to come.
tardis
GoProud was an awkward institution. Yes, gay conservatives exist, and that’s fine. However, embracing a party whose track record showcases nothing but contempt and disdain towards the LGBT community is like that person trying desperately to be liked and accepted while being constantly rejected. The Republican Party needs to change its platform.
Sohobod
I’m a Tory (Conservative) voter in the UK, but if I was American I could never support the Republican party. Whatever one may think of Cameron, Osborne, Johnson etc, they are not simply playing ‘lip service’ to gay rights. Older, and more conventional members of the party are less open to change, but the people with power – those who matter in the party – are in the 21st century.
JDJase
I can at least respect the Log Cabin Republicans because they tend to have the goal of changing the Republican party’s attitude towards gays. Which is exactly why these two buffoons broke away from LCR, because they decided the GOP does NOT need to change and that being homophobic assholes is the way it’s supposed to be.
Little-Kiwi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R6jqMysHaA
Little-Kiwi
http://youtu.be/hrv31BCGeqY
Little-Kiwi
two wimps that won’t be missed.
GOProud – america’s saddest eunuchs.
Aidan8
B-L-E-C-H… the two of them… good riddance to bad rubbish…
balehead
These guys took everyone’s money and now they want another chance?…..Watch them probably work for GLAAD…..
Eiswirth
If homophobes want proof that gays are just like everyone else, here it is. They can be just as stupid and homophobic as most republicans.
hf2hvit
KILL THEM
brent
Great article-holding the homophobic republicans to account, now if Queerty would run an article holding the homophobic blacks and hispanics who vote for things like prop. 8 to the same high standard.
zrocqs
@brent: Careful, there. Your Stars and Bars is showing.
Lothar
GOProud was not a genuine organization. It was simply a paper tiger. 2 rich gay men wanted some attention so they created some letterhead and began sending press releases to Fox news Channel. This led to many guest appearances on the channel. This was never about acceptance within the GOP. it was about two arrogant rich men’s egos.