A Gayer GOP

Meghan McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain says in order to regain lost political traction, we need a "gayer GOP." She says, "Republican resistance to gay marriage goes against conservative values—and our own self-interest." Her argument is further analyzed and supported by Kristen Soltis at the New Right, HERE. First, let me say, bravo Meghan and Kristen. This is a theory I have long believed; first, that increased personal liberty and choice is highly consistent with Republican core values, and second, that (as I have said many times,) the GOP needs to reevaluate some of their tired old rhetoric that even they don't believe any more. Gay marriage, even (gasp!) gay sex, does not threated Conservative morals. No more than women voting or blacks becoming citizens does. The spectrum of personalities within the GLBT "community" certainly includes conservatives, just as many or more than the ultra-liberal gay people who get so much face time in the media. No one wants to watch an MTV special about the sober, straight-laced, middle class conservative gay guys who work on a farm. Drag queens and exaggeratedly stereotypical over-the-top 20-somethings are a lot more exciting, and polarizing. As much as this kind of polarization is necessary and (according to me,) welcomed, it is not in fact representative of the overall homosexual populace in America. As gay people and gay lives get more and more exposure, more and more freedom and legal protections, and more and more notice in day to day life, we can see for real that gay people really are just like everyone else. Meghan McCain is probably right: if the GOP relaxed its rhetoric about homosexuals, they might achieve the first steps in a contemporary Conservative revival, one that might actually be forward-thinking, like the Republicans used to be, "back in the day."

Allow me to finish with a quote by Meghan McCain, which sums up exactly what I mean:

I am a woman who despises labels and boxes and stereotypes. Recently, I seemed to have rocked a few individuals within my party by saying that I am a pro-life, pro-gay-marriage Republican. So if anyone is still confused, let me spell it out for you. I believe life begins at conception and I believe that people who fall in love should have the option to get married. Lest we forget, our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, grants the same rights to everyone in this country—“All men are created equal.” If you think certain rights should not apply to certain people, then you are saying those people are not equal. People may always have a difference of opinion on certain lifestyles, but championing a position that wants to treat people unequally isn't just un-Republican. At its fundamental core, it's un-American.

There just might be hope for the GOP yet.