Go Proud Claims It Supports Same-sex Marriage

Once Reticent, It Now Begins Work at State & Local Levels

The Tea Party Branch for Gay Republicans, GoProud, announced on January 18, 2013, that it supports marriage equality for gays and lesbians. GoProud’s Board of Directors decided to begin work at the state and local level. They even point to Democratic President Barack Obama’s support of same-sex marriage as a factor in changing their policy.

Worked Exclusively on Federal Issues in the Past

The GoProud Board of Directors released a press release on January 18th which delineates the change of opinion:  “Because marriage has been a state issue since the founding of our country, we have had no official position on marriage or relationship recognition.  We have supported, and continue to support, the repeal of DOMA, and we oppose any effort to federalize marriage through a constitutional amendment.”

Since its founding by two Log Cabin Republicans, Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron, in 2009, GoProud has always opposed the federal Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA), but has been complacent about advocating in support of same-sex marriage.

Federalists’ Stance

In their January 18, 2013 statement, the group declared that they are federalists so” they do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach on almost any issue and that includes relationship recognition for gay couples.”

What they do believe is that “stable, loving, committed relationships are the cornerstone of our society and should be protected and encouraged for all couples – including gay and lesbian couples.” They also believe that “the decision about how to best do this is one that should be made at the state level and that these decisions are best made by the people directly or through their elected representatives – not by unelected judges.”

“Where civil marriage is possible, we support civil marriage.  Where civil unions are possible, we support civil unions.  Where domestic partner benefits are possible, we support domestic partner benefits.  We understand that there are people of deep faith who may have religious objections to marriage.  We respect those differences and believe that no church or religious institution should ever be forced to solemnize a marriage that is against its teachings.”

Lavender Magazine Criticizes

The LGBT magazine Lavender accuses GoProud of  “their ever-opportunistic attempts online and on cable TV news to harangue, attack, and lambast Democrats, the left, liberals, progressives, and especially those who identify as such – plus LGBT.”

It goes on to say that “it is extraordinarily inconceivable for a group that purportedly was created to in part to “improve the every day lives of gays and lesbians across the country,” to regularly hob knob with and even pay anti-gay public figures, like Ann Coulter, to headline their fundraising and/or political events, and even place her on their Advisory Board.”

Sarcastically, the magazine concludes with “welcome to the fight for equality – however late you are to the battle, however hypocritical or self-serving one’s actions may be, there’s strength in numbers.”

 

 

One thought on “Go Proud Claims It Supports Same-sex Marriage

  • February 13, 2013 at 9:31 pm
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    I am still a homophobe but I am working on that. I think that going after the gay marriage thing is a bad stratigy. I agree that wed gays should have all of the same advantages and rights but it needs a new name. Married and religios people will always fight the changing of the meaning of the word marriage so why try. Work on a new name and stratigy.