In my story appearing at www.gazette.comtoday, I write about the handful of conservative Christian ministries angry about GOProud, a gay advocacy group, being one of dozens of cosponsors for the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., in February.
Tom Minnery
Read my Pulpit column here for background on Jimmy Salvia, the founder and president of the conservative-leaning GOProud. In a phone interview today, LaSalvia, who is Republican, made some curious points.
On how Americans are more accepting of gays: “Conservatives are no different that anyone else in America. More and more gay people are living openly and honestly. More Americans have gay people in their lives, and they know gay people in their neighborhoods. My experience at CPAC last year was overwhelmingly positive. One after another thanked me for being there.”
On heterosexual and gay marriages:“GOProud believes marriage is a state issue. The federal government should not be involved in marriage and family law.”
On GOProud’s support of Republican platforms:“Our support includes private inheritable accounts. Right now you have to be legally married to get survivor’s benefits. Free market healthcare reform. Put control of health care in hands of individuals. Then a same-sex couple could purchase a healthcare plan across state lines rather than through a domestic partner benefit from an employer.”
“These policies are good for everybody and uniquely benefit gay people. Less government and intrusion in people’s lives are good.”
Tommy Sears is executive director of the Center for Military Readiness in Livonia, Michigan.Sears said the organization is on the fence about whether to boycott CPAC for allowing GOProud to be a cosponsor. “We are in outright conflict (with GOProud) on allowing gays in the military,” Sears told me today.
Mat Staver, president of Liberty Counsel, told me that the organization decided not to be a CPAC cosponsor last year and this year because of GOProud’s cosponsorship. Staver cited Ronald Reagan’s “three legs” of responsibility — fiscal, national defense and social. GOProud’s support of gay marriage undermines the social, and its support of gays in the military undermines national defense.
Speaking of CPAC, Staver said, “We will not continue to support an organization that undermines our principles.”
Focus, other ministries question their commitment to CPAC is a post from: The Pulpit