From a reader:
Long time reader. I’ve been wondering for a while why no one’s asked this or written about it.
What’s a gay conservative to do? See, I agree with republicans on things like low taxes, free market reform, privatization, smaller government, foreign policy, and the war on terror.
Unfortunately. the party caters to a constituency that pretty much defines me as an abomination and takes every effort to cast the “homosexual agenda” as anti-family and anti-american. In election years, this rhetoric becomes even more hateful, and now there’s an entire constitutional amendment trying to keep me in my place. They make it crystal clear they don’t care about my vote under any circumstances. It’s like the republicans labor under the illusion that we will all eventually go away and not have to be dealt with.
On the other hand, I disagree with almost every “non-social” policy (I agree on abortion, death penalty, gay rights, and school vouchers with the democrats; pretty much whatever the religous wing of the republicans is for, i oppose) on the democratic platform. But at least they don’t slap me in the face.
So Jonah, if you were a gay conservative on policy issues, how would you vote? For the party you feel is right, but doesn’t want you, or for the one that wants you, but is wrong on how to run a country?
Me: I don’t have time for a long answer to this, but I think it is a fair question for conservatives — gay and straight — to ponder. First of all, I have written about gays and conservatives a few times in the past. But my short answer to the question is I don’t know. The slightly longer answer would involve my bias towards having arguments within groups you agree with more than not. But I’d also say that not every election and every party is in the business of confirming your personal self-identification. Voting your interests as you see them is honorable of course. But if you believe, for example, that the war on terror is the central issue of our time, voting for Ralph Nader because he’s good on rent control or even gay rights is hardly the most admirable course. Anyway, as I said, I don’t have great answers. But I do think it’s a fair question — and one I hear a lot.