How odd do you think the idea of a gay republican is?

Question

I'm not saying anything either way! Don't post some stupid answer telling me that I'm insensative and blah blah blah! I'm seriously asking what people think, so take a chill pill.

Answer 1

Amazingly, I know some.
I actually admire the guy who is the head of Log Cabin Republicans; he refused to support Bush in the last election because of the most Homophobically written platform in party history.

One can easily be gay and be politically conservative on economic issues or national defense. Andrew Sullivan of the NY times used to be a Bush supporter until they became so overtly homophobic and incompetent at prosecuting the war.

Yukio Mishima, the famous author, was gay and actually a fascist in Japan.

I always think being a gay Republican is like being a Chicken who votes for Colonel Sanders.

Answer 2

I'm a 54 year old gay male who was raised as a 7th generation Republican. Though most here are too young to remember it, there was a time when the Republican Party was conservative on spending matters but relatively moderate on social issues. For years I tried to convince myself that the pendulum would swing back and that there would be a return of the moderate Republican. I also tried to convince myself that I could be a better instrument of that change from within the party. I think these same sort of thoughts are frequent in Gay Republicans, or "Log Cabin Republicans". For myself, I gave up that hope some years ago, became a registered Independent, and now find myself always voting for an Independent or Democrat.

Answer 3

Oh come on there are plenty of them. Democrats arent anymore gay friendly than Republicans. For example Clinton supported Dont Ask Dont Tell and the DOMA. Bush Sr. disapproved of the legislation that would have prohibited gay Americans from teaching in public schools.

Answer 4

Not at all odd!
The people who claim this political identity are usually privileged White men. Current Republican thought is very kind to this group at the expense of almost all other social groups, (e.g. women, lesbians, Blacks, etc.). So while gay rights are important to them, they usually have enough social and economic privilege to not be hurt by the Republican's less than enlightened social policies.

Oversimplifying, they are rich and white enough so that the negatives don't matter much.

Also, the gay movement is notoriously self centered and White. An example is the resistance to including lesbians in the 1970's (there are even current discrimination cases open).
Yet another is the rampant biphobia that exists among gay and lesbian people.
But the gays have outdone themselves when it comes to hating transpeople. Transpeople are still kicked out of gay bars, spit on openly in the Castro by gays and lesbians, and refused service in all manner of gay venues. Gays have a long history of kicking down anybody more vulnerable than them.

You can see the mentality that gays bring to their lives is a near total lack of concern for social issues that they feel are not theirs. So it makes sense that privileged White gay men would align under banners like the Log Cabin Republicans.

After all, when you're gay, the only butt that you need to worry about is your own, and this mentality fits nicely into current Conservative thought.

Disclaimer: There are exceptions, of course, but this is the basic truth for Conservative gay men in America. Lesbians are much better in the social responsibilty department. Transpeople are too embattled to be very much of anything, but their social awareness and liberalism seems greater than average.

Answer 5

Many people, gay or not, are Republican because they are fiscally conservative. Even thought they may be liberal leaning socially the fiscal conservative takes precedence over the social. Thus, being a Democrat is not an option for them.

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Answer 6

they're often called Log Cabin Republicans. Conservatives in a more classical free market economic sense. Just because you agree with the general philosphy of a group doesn't mean you have to like every decision that it makes or what the party evolves into. Personaly I don't agree with the modern conservative point of view of banning gay marriage or placing a stimga on homosexuality. Where as I think they might have some valid points the main issue is government denying people rights on the basis of sexual preference, and government should have no place in that area including teaching sexual education in schools. There are many great reasons for this people do not understand, but banning gay marriage is not inline with classical conservative philosophy. People who claim you can't be a gay conservative know nothing about history or how ideaologies are developed.

Answer 7

It's only odd in that the social issues that TEND to be popular and important to gays are issues embraced by the Democratic party. Fiscal issues could go either way depending on the financial state of the person in question.

All things considered however, I would find it odd for a gay person to embrace the party that has initiated anti same sex marriage laws in 2/3 of the states in the country.

Answer 8

I am one of them. Main difference between myself and most of the party is gay rights. There are a large number of us in the Log Cabin Republican group of gay Republican

Answer 9

it is quite odd, especially because I know quite a few. log cabin republicans. The ones i know are republican because they are convinced that the liberals are gonna put gun control in place and take away their guns. it makes no sense, but there you have it.

Answer 10

I think it is very possible. You can believe in smaller government and free market economy and be gay. It is the more hard core Christian elements in the party that would make it harder for an uncloseted homosexual.