Comments on: GOProud becomes even less gay

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:17:21 +0000

Just curious,

So you don’t think the guy who outed Haggard should have outed Haggard. If so, what are you thinking?

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:11:14 +0000

JohnAGJ

de Pasquale is the former director of CPAC. Of course there are many conservatives for whom social issues are of secondary importance and who are primarily fiscal conservatives or focused on national security issues. However, based on what little I’ve read from de Pasquale, she has an interest in cultural conservatism and traditional values.

Based solely on what she has written (and allowing that I’ve not read everything she’s written) she appears to be a far right social conservative activist.

By: Donny D.

Donny D. — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:59:17 +0000

Gay hardcore Republican conservatives will continue to exist whether or not they have an organization to represent them.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:27:42 +0000

I have to agree with Neil, here. Fabrizio was “outed” in the sense that we ordinary folks learned he was gay, but he seemed to be already out in his social circles and at work. And we ordinary folks didn’t even know his name a week ago. I definitely believe that outing anti-gay /secretly gay politicians is an unequivocal good and moral thing to do, and the documentary Outrage makes the case that it’s more than just a punitive act; it’s self-defense. And often the outed politican sees the light and changes his ways. But here, it’s on the borderline, as Fabrizio isn’t really a politician so much as a behind-the-scenes guy. Of course, he never would’ve publicly condemned the ad had he not been outed, so Outrage was right again. But equally as valid is the fact that he was hardly to blame for it in the first place. I do find it funny and ironic that Barron and LaSilva got in trouble because they finally did what Timothy pointed out they never do: put “gay” first over “Republican”. I suspect we’ll never again see GOProud condemning any Republican for doing or saying anything anti-gay ever again. And in that sense, they are definitely not a gay group anymore.

By: JohnAGJ

JohnAGJ — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:57:19 +0000

Timothy: I’ve never heard of Lisa de Pasquale before this. Why do you say that she is “a far right social conservative activist”? Thanks.

As for GOProud, well all I’ll say is that I’ve never been a fan of Barron and the direction I saw GOProud going is one of the biggest reasons why I no longer guest blog at GayPatriot.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:33:32 +0000

Is it unequivocally true that Mr Fabrizio was closeted? What constitutes ‘the closet’ here?

My impression of the state of being closeted is that it is a carefully edited behaviour intended to conceal one’s sexual orientation with a mask heterosexual appearance. Surely Fabrizio was not unknown to be gay if it was so casually understood by the GOProud kids.

So is this a case of closeting by degree? Fabrizio was socially out but urged an observance of a sort of radio silence on the matter, one that La Salvia transgressed? I ask this because I’ve not read any direct rebuke from Mr Fabrizio himself. It seems a little like the umbrage over outing is a convenient flap for Breitbart to disavow an association with such a petty collection of quislings as is GOProud. He’s been champing at the bit and now he’s unbridled? I imagine where there’s quisling business to be done the likes of Breitbart would prefer it to be performed in a more professional manner.

By: emma

emma — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:04:13 +0000

De Pasquale would go lesbian for Ann Coulter, as anyone who has ever tried to read any of her worshipful articles on Coulter.

By: Lord_Byron

Lord_Byron — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:10:56 +0000

I generally oppose outing someone, but in certain cases like ted haggard i think it’s justified. I know we argued about this in another post and Mr. Fabrizio is not the politician running for office, but it’s hard to argue that no harm comes from him helping candidates like rick perry run for office. Governors Rick Perry and Rick Scott both either used or are using him to run for political office. Rick Perry is, as shown from quotes, extremely homophobic and Rick Scott is homophobic as well. I see it harmful to the LGBT community to help elect men like that.

By: Lucrece

Lucrece — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:08:48 +0000

The huffPo article you cited doesn’t have a source for the statement that Fabrizio urges lawmakers to reconsider said approach. Not a valid citation. In the same poll Fabrizio did for LCR they said he was also a pollster for Bob Dole.

Of these politicians he has worked for, none of his speculated “advocacy” has born fruit. They all vote against gay rights regardless, and Fabrizio gets his fat paycheck at the end of the day for helping them campaign to get elected.

Again, you pretend that LCR puts gay advocacy first. If so, explain how offering endorsement to McCain and lauding Sarah Palin represented that, because Palin’s record was crystal clear and during the 2008 campaign McCain made clear that if the courts decided for gay marriage, he would vote for the FMA. McCain was opposed to DADT repeal.

I wish you would stop dodging the inconvenient cases that contradict your evaluation of LCR’s depiction.

Oh, well, paint me away as this crazed inquisitor as much as you like. When Romney or Gingrich get the nomination, we’ll see about LCR’s endorsements and talk then.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:10:30 +0000

Lucrese, I am not impartial about the difference between LCR and GOProud. Nor do I pretend to be. One is a gay organization that tries to advance our rights, the other is not. Erin addressed the de Pasquale comment nicely.

Cite your sources. No, really, I’m pulling that card now.

This is not news to anyone involved in gay politics, but here's Sam Stein on HuffPo And Fabrizio has done polling for the Log Cabin Republicans in addition to urging lawmakers to reconsider their approach to the culture wars and embrace basic fairness for gay Americans on the issue of marriage.

You decide that they’re not a legitimate gay organization because they don’t put gay advocacy first...

Yes, exactly. Political groups that do not focus on gay advocacy are not "gay groups". As for the rest... well, that's your opinion and you are entitled to it. It has nothing to do with what I actually believe, but I don't think that matters much to you.