The founder of the Lincoln Project, the political action committee wishing to eradicate Trumpism from the Republican Party and edge the GOP a little closer to the center ground, has come out as gay.
The announcement from John Weaver, 61, who is married to a woman and has two children, came as he admitted and apologized for sending “inappropriate” messages to younger men – some of whom were graduates seeking internships.
Last week, multiple men posted on social media about receiving unsolicited and sexual messages from Weaver, sometimes coupled with offers of potential employment, internship, or political gain. Given Weaver has previously criticized Donald Trump, the President’s son, Donald Trump Jnr was among those to quickly re-tweet news of the allegations.
Related: Former antigay Congressman Aaron Schock officially comes out as gay
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Weaver took a leave of absence from the Lincoln Project last summer. On Friday, he told Axios he would not be returning and gave his statement acknowledging the messages to men.
“For too long I have tried to live a life that wasn’t completely true, where I cleaved off an important part of myself in order to maintain what I thought was happiness and normalcy in the other part,’ Weaver began. “I was lying myself, to my family who gave me nothing but unconditional love, and to others, causing a great deal of pain to all.
“The truth is that I’m gay. And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place.
“To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry. They were inappropriate and it was because of my failings that this discomfort was brought on you.
“I have the most beautiful, loving and courageous family who I deceived all these years. I don’t deserve you. But I love you with all of my heart and I’m so sorry that you have to suffer for my mistakes.
“To my many friends and colleagues, I’m sorry that I let you down.
“While I am taking full responsibility for the inappropriate messages and conversations, I want to state clearly that the other smears being leveled at me by Donald Trump’s enablers as a way to get back at the Lincoln Project for our principled stand for democracy are categorically false and outrageous.
“I took a medical leave of absence from the Lincoln Project last summer and will not be returning to the organization, even after I fully recover. The project’s defense of the Republic and fight for democracy is vital.
“I hope that by telling this truth at long last my family and I can move forward. I plan to continue the unfinished fight for liberty, justice and human rights for all that has been my life’s work.”
Related: Ex-‘ex-gay’ who opposed marriage equality: “I’m about to get married to a dude”
Prior to co-founding the Lincoln Project in 2019, Weaver was a top adviser to Republicans including John McCain and John Kasich. In a 2015 profile, Politico called him an “elite operative” and considered him “among America’s most celebrated political consultants”.
The Lincoln Project has not issued any statement in response to the accusations against Weaver but has removed the page from its website that lists him as a co-founder.
Cam
Weaver was doing what Republicans, the Mormon, Catholic, and Evangelical churches want all LGBTQ people to do. Stay closeted, and enter into a marriage falsely and lie to your spouse and stay miserable for life, sneak around, harass others.
Too bad it took a harassment scandal to drive him out of the closet.
whatsaywhat
At least he’s on the road to recovery… Denouncing the Trumpists and finally being honest… better late than never.
Chrisk
Ha. You’re 61 and not very nice to look at. Next time just pay for your college stud fantasy. Otherwise, it will always be considered harassment by default.
At this point rape and/or sexual harassment is just the standard Republican coming out story. At least the guys finally honest though. Most Republicans will lie to their death rather then face the truth. It’s all they know.
Cam
Isn’t it amazing that Republicans, Fox News folks etc. keep doing this stuff and it’s on Voicemails, or texts?
They really are used to living a consequence free existence when it comes to law enforcement.
DarkZephyr
I’m sure you’re a classic beauty.
That being said, its always amazing to me how gay men 35 and up seem so allergic to dating their own age.
Donston
He’s married, is a politician and tried bribing a decent amount of people with status and job opportunities. He was gonna get exposed eventually no matter age.
A lot of the guys who don’t get outed manage to do so by making it all about sex. They treat it as a business. You can get escorts or form an arrangement with a couple of people if it’s only/mostly about sex. It’s the ones who have “gay” romantic passions, who want to please their sex, who have same-sex affections, emotional longings, relationship instincts that are often can’t stay closeted. When you look to form bonds and relationships and consistent correspondence you make yourself more vulnerable. However, he seems like one of those who subconsciously wanted to get caught.
Yes, many dudes have overall preferences for twinks, young pretty effeminate guys or young stud-like dudes. While many guys with power or money don’t feel as if they need to “settle” for anything less than a young pretty thing. So, the age difference isn’t a shock. However, most dudes who are 30+ years old do date around their age, and that includes guys looking for same-sex relationships. So, I do think the May-December stuff with “gay” couples is a tad overblown.
whatsaywhat
DarkZephyr – Gay men 35 and up? Please. It’s more likely any man, gay or straight, who is having a mid life crisis and wants to recapture some essence of lost youth.
Plenty of gay men over 35 aren’t super interested in younger guys who aren’t sexually “mature” yet (read: dull in bed).
JustLarry
These Republicans and their sexual misconducts is vile. I am so glad we have non-threatening Democrats such as John Lasseter, Charlie Rose, Glenn Thrush, Matt Lauer, Jeffrey Tambor, Luis CK, Brett Ratner, Russel Simmons, Michael Oreskes, Kevin Spacey, Mark Halperin, Jame Toback, Roy Price, and Harvey Weinstein!
Donston
JustLarry, I get what you’re trying to do. The political party you affiliate with doesn’t have a ton to do with respecting people’s space, getting off on intimidating/bribing folks, and not being megalomaniac a-hole. The problem is you’ve mentioned a bunch of
entertainers, business men, newscasters. Not actual politicians.
JustLarry
@Donston
You are absolutely correct and I was 100% WRONG (I’m not above admitting when I’m wrong, unlike dirty Republicans). I should’ve added the following fine Democrat politians: Al Franken, Bobby Scott, Ruben Kihuen, John Conyers Jr, Tony Cardenas, Daylin Leach, Andrea Ramsey, Robert C. Scott, Lou Lang, Nate Boulton, Eric Schneiderman, Angel Arce, Charles Barkley, David Sawyer, Duane Hall, Joe Souki, Dean Westlake, Boris Miles, Carlos Uresti, Matt Dababneh, Raul Bocanegra, Tony Mendoza, Paul Rosenthal, Dan Schoen and Christina Garcia. All honorable Democrats.
Kangol2
@JustLoopy, most of the people you list didn’t spend their careers trying to push repressive laws on LGBTQ people or anyone else or to strip away gay rights but you keep your head in the @sses of right-wingers & see how far it gets you & anyone else.
JustLarry
@Kangol2
Thanks for the clarification! I’m pretty new to politics so I’m glad for your patience. Now I know if a polititian commits sexual harrassment it’s only bad if they voted against or didn’t support any gay causes. Thanks again, I really appreciate learning the nuances of being a good Democrat.
Cam
@JustLarry
So the Roy Ajax troll screename got exposed. Then when you switched to “openminded” that one got exposed, and now here you are cutting and pasting the same B.S. under “JustLarry”.
We get it sweetie, you’re always here to defend Republicans and attack Democrats, because you’re a troll.
JustLarry
@Cam
OMG No! I don’t know what you’re talking about because I do not like Republicans. Like I told Kangol2 I’m very new to politics and am having trouble figuring things out. I want a Democrat country 100%, but i need to know what to do so we can accomplish that.
Cam
@JustLarry
Sweetie, this act is even worse than the one you tried under the “openminded” screename.
I mean, it’s just sad.
Openminded
@Cam, I see you still have me on your mind. Sounds like you think I am gone and looks like you might have missed me. As I’ve stated before, this is my one and only screenname so if you think JustLarry or RoyAjax is me, you are wrong again.
Openminded
@JustLarry. Congrats dude, you have gotten to meet the site control queen, Cam. When Cam feels threatened he declares you as an alternate screenname of RoyAjax and accuses you of being a troll who just deflects with your comments. You see, troll and deflect are the only two words he knows. He’s claiming you are actually me but he isn’t even smart enough to realize your writing style which includes long lists of names is nothing like mine, but that won’t matter to him. I don’t know RoyAjax, but I can assure you I’m a pretty good dude who tries to see things from all perspectives instead of just a single view, so don’t be offended if Cam thinks you are me.
Cam
@Openminded
Sweetie, you can never resist switching screenames to try to come in and defend your new troll screenames can you?
Again, you’re really really bad at this.
JustLarry
@Cam
Cam, I can assure you I am just Larry. Larry is literally my real name, although I won’t tell you my last name because that’s not safe to do online. I am horrified that you are calling me a troll because that is absolutely NOT true! I’m here to learn and have some fun reading articles.
barryaksarben
Just Larry or whatever you are using today that fools no one you forgot Larry Craig, Lindsey Graham and all the other republicans who pass antigay laws that actually harm gay people unlike that phony AL Franken set up. We dont believe your lies. How many of us have to tell you that you are wasting your breath. Gay pols who enable the radical right ( they are not actual conservatives) to pass laws that hurt AMerican citizens deserve the scorn of the nation. They arent just making errors in judgement like the dems you named but went out of their way to harm others while thinking they got away with something. What will be your next screen name? That will be fun to see as your past ones have shown you have no wit or style
JustLarry
@Barry
I didn’t realize that Al Franken was set up to pose for that picture! Wow, thanks for informing me. And please forgive me as I continue to understand what is sexual harrassment and what is an error in judgement, there is a lot to learn for a newbie like me but I’m very happy people like you are helping me understand.
Cam
@JustLarry
Translation: Republicans are anti-LGBTQ bigots and Roy Ajax is here under his “Larry” screename to deflect”.
Nice try sweetie.
TheMarc
I’ve never understood why they don’t just do “that.” Go find yourself someone young (but not TOO young) and, most importantly, WILLING who will either gladly take your cash or do it to full THEIR own fantasy (and there are some that it would align with.) I mean, there are times I can’t tell a 16 year old from a 19 year old, so thank God I don’t date THAT young. But really is the “grooming” or “deflowering” fantasy that prominent? I guess it is. Kinda stupid if you ask me. Speaking as a top, I MUCH prefer someone who knows what their doing and not just regarding “the act” itself but the proper preparation in advance of the act.
Seriously, even though he’s an older man who’s not the most attractive, hate to say it, but I’ve seen many a young twink practically leap in to guys like his arms because he’s also…white. Not a judgment, just a near middle-aged, black guy’s long-term observation. So the guy had no excuses for harassing these young men. It’s just another case of someone wanting most what they can’t have.
TheMarc
@JustLarry – Your schtick isn’t really cute. First, the core of the conversation was surrounding closeted Republican politicians. Then you go on to name a shit ton of Democrats, private citizens and politicians, who were mostly accused or convicted relative to STRAIGHT sex scandals. I don’t think I saw ONE comment that exonerated ALL Democrats from ANY sex scandal. Undeniably, there has been a consistent, hypocritical bent toward Republican or Right wing politicians, especially those who push anti-gay policies and legislation, being caught up in a gay sex scandal. Deflect all you want, but that IS the case.
If you’re a gay man, that should concern you; even if you’re Republican. You shouldn’t be leaping to the defense of men who use their power, wealth and privilege to live a convenient double-life of projecting the heteronormative “family man” image while using intimidation, coercion and manipulation to push their victims into non-consensual sexual relationships or acts. These people are a stain on human society, no matter what their political affiliation and we should ALL want to wash their brand of disgusting behavior out.
Brian
If he had at least a tiny bit of self-awareness, he would notice that it’s the Republican propaganda and policies that made him closeted and insane. Yet he still supports the party. What a wreck.
Donston
There are lots of folks who grow up in Liberal environments and who have very “open-minded” parents, but they still stay closeted forever and a day. There are a ton of different things that can be going on with people’s sexualities, sense of gender and where they are in the orientation spectrum. There are many things folks are insecure about. And there’s a lot of stuff that affect what folks do and how they present themselves. Of course, religion, certain politics, toxic masculinity and hetero pressures are big issues and have as much of an affect as anything. And they should be called out. But I also feel like always leaning on that sometimes underlines just how complicated things like sociology, ego, sense of self, sexuality, orientation, love, motivations and general psychology can be. It’s sometimes too easy of an answer.
jniceny
He has also worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He isn’t aligned so much to either party as he is committed to the project of preserving the 40-year neoliberal washington consensus.
But even if he was a CIA sicko who tortured people in Iraq for Dick Chenney or was Jesse Helms’s Chief of staff, most Democrats would think him a hero if he went on cable news to warn us of how Trump is a threat to democracy or is a puppet of Putin
Kangol2
@Donston, I am going to praise you for finally mentioning…psychology! It’s an important science, you know, and definitely plays crucial roles in how we see, name and understand ourselves individually and collectively!
Donston
Kangol, I’ve mentioned psychology a couple of times, but it kinda goes without saying. I also don’t want to be accused of trying to be a psychologist. But all of this stuff is deeply rooted in psychology. That’s one of the issues I have with people who look at sexuality, gender and orientation purely from a technical, behavioral and/or identity.
There are dudes no where near inherently homo but who claim “gay” identities or align themselves with “gays” and “queer” causes. There are dudes who are full-on homo and out of the closet but still want to fit into the “straight world” and constantly seek the approval of “straights”. That kind of stuff has as much to do with psychology as they do social circumstances. And it’s okay for us to admit that. Your attractions, your sexual enjoyment and your sex drive is one thing. But your fetishes and paraphiliacs, your romantic passions, who you like pleasing, who you like affirmation from, who you want affections from, your emotional investment, your relationship contentment, whether you want commitment or not- those things are very much rooted in psychology. While ego, insecurities, desired sense of self, who you want to “fit in” with, etc. have as much to do with psychology as they do sociology.
My whole thing is, you can stay closeted, you can be DL and you don’t have to be with anyone you don’t want to be with. But actively being anti “queer” and pushing hateful policies, that’s hard to forgive. Now watch him not make it very clear that his politics are a problem. And watch him not care about penance but still look to be accepted by “queers”.
rocmond
I am all for people finding their truth, but let’s be truthful. He apologized because he got caught. I wish him well, but I am failing to find sympathy.
barkomatic
He definitely shouldn’t have made those comments but I don’t have as much glee over this as other conservative outings. He was always an anti Trumper and tried to push his party to the center and away from extremism—which is clearly needed right now. He’s also coming clean and apologetic. The more these outings happen, I hope Republicans will realize that consensual sexuality between adults isn’t something they should expect should be suppressed. The catholic church should take a few notes on this as well. Suppressing yourself always results in misery sooner or later.
Kangol2
Before Don the Con he was a garden variety Republican, a party that has gone out of its way to demonize LGBTQ people and is still doing so, and he was probably going to stay DL and continue to abuse his position unless he got caught, so while I appreciate his efforts to get the fascist treasonous monster out of the White House, I am shedding no tears for him. His day of self-reckoning has only just begun.
Cam
For a guy who fought so hard to keep LGBTQ people out of the military, McCain certainly had a lot of them working for him.
I think this is the second or third “scandal” around some McCain staffer getting outted.
vancouverdoug
@JustLarry, Wow for being “new” to politics you certainly had quite a list of names ready to go. I am not sure even the most die-hard Republican dirty trickster would have that treasure trove
JustLarry
Thank you. I take lots of notes.
barryaksarben
he was being sarcastic troll
revashayne
@JustLarry, you can also add former governer of New Jersey, Jim Mcgreevey to your list.
JustLarry
I will! I love learning.
ashersea
It’s not Republicans. It all comes from the evangelicals and the social conservatives.
Cam
Who are all Republicans.
fag1
He is a hard-core democrat…
Cam
@fag1
Except that’s a lie.
mikeincleveland
Lincoln Project isn’t right-wing and neither is Weaver. They’re mostly moderate conservatives, some of them who have left the GOP, that work in that organization. Weaver worked for Kasich and McCain, both of whom are/were ostracized from the Trump-loving GOP. The headline is click-bait-written to make them appear along the lines of QANON or Proud Boy-level. Too many people don’t understand politics or political structures enough as it is (mostly due to misinformation) and headlines like that don’t help.
Openminded
I think it’s still right wing, definitely not left wing, nor is it Radical right wing, but yeah, headline is click bait. Now wait for Cam to declare this as some form of deflection. You will notice that troll and deflection are the only two words he knows.
Donston
If it’s a right wing organization then the headline ain’t “clickbait”.
Brian
He’s right-wing. He doesn’t get to call himself “a moderate” just because he acknowledges the moon landing and the existence of viruses. Your definition of the political spectrum has been warped by liars, so now you’re giving too much credit to the insane people that they collaborate with.
JromeGervais09
So he came out. Big deal. He has harassment coming to him. The trouble I have with having empathy for him is that he still is a Queer Republican. A rethuglican cannot be trusted. Let me protect your chicks said the Fox in the hen house. Another confused grifter.
hogo
Come on people, in one way or the other, many of us have had the struggle of “coming out”. We may have covered up in many ways that were hurtful to others, but have a little compassion. it doesn’t cost you a thing. BE KIND.
Donston
It’s not that easy. I get internalized homophobia, hetero pressures and gay insecurities. But no one forced him to become a politician. He didn’t have to dedicate a significant portion of his life helping to push, fund and profit off of anti “queer” policies and culture. He also “came out” because he was outed. And a lot of these guys get off on having secret “gay lives”. A lot get off on punishing out “queers”. A lot feel that they are superior.
It’s not as straightforward as “he’s out so let’s all support him”. It don’t work that way. And it’s incredibly naive to think it should. At the very least he has some steps to take. Either way, I won’t be paying attention.
fag1
He is a grifter….Fags are fools for giving him money…
Cam
@fag1
Let’s see, on a posting above you said Weaer was a hard core Democrat, which is a lie. And here you are using an anti-LGBTQ pejorative to attack the community.
Wow, the right wing trolls really hate Republicans who go against Trump.
barryaksarben
fag1 I guess you can use that screen name since you obviously are a giant closet case who is too cowardly to admit you want to have some man , any man peg you hard