Reprint form the Guardian.co.uk an excellent news source form Great Britian.
On being out, proud and conservativeMy left-liberal experience was of intolerance if you dared challenge political correctness. The right is more accepting
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Tammy Bruce guardian.co.uk, Friday 22 October 2010 16.30 BST larger smaller Article history
California gay rights activists have led the way in campaigning for same-sex marriage to be recognised, with a significant recent legal victory and the support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Photograph: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson There's a little something I noticed in the reaction to my first article here at the Guardian – a question tucked in the midst of the hundreds of pithy and thoughtful reader contributions – I was asked: what is it like to be gay and conservative?
After all, those conservatives hate the homos, don't they? It must be very, very difficult for me, one concerned reader noted, to be among the intolerant and hateful.
Well, I do suppose I would rather bask in the unbridled sunlight of liberal values of fairness, tolerance and love so eloquently on display in many of the comments made on my first contribution here. I know, it seems like such an odd decision, to reject the Eden of the liberal establishment. Yet strangely, after having been on the left for so long myself, I began to wonder: how much love and understanding can one person take?
Presumably, "batshit crazy"is an English liberal term of endearment, right? When I read another commenter's description of American conservative women politicians as "a bunch of petty, incoherent shrews", I was filled with joy at realising how great it was to be among authentic feminists once again.
Having made my point, I trust, I'll now slip out of my snark suit and share a little secret with you. The real story of bigotry and intolerance is the fact that it lives and thrives on the left. As a gay woman who spent most of her adult life pushing the cart for liberal causes with liberal friends in a liberal city, I found that sexism, racism and homophobia are staples in the liberal world. The huge irony is liberals spend every ounce of energy promoting the notion that they are the banner carriers of individualism and personal freedom, yet the hammer comes down on anyone who dares not to conform to, or who dissents even in part from, the liberal agenda.
Think about what would happen if you did act up? If you dared to say you like Sarah Palin, or admire Margaret Thatcher, or think global warming is a hoax, or think Bill Clinton is a sexual predator, or that George W Bush isn't to blame for everything, or that Barack Obama has absolutely no clue what he's doing, you know there would be a price to pay. Odds are that your "liberal" friends would very liberally hate you. At the very least, being shunned would be your new experience, condemning you to suffer that horrific liberal malady called social death.
So, when it comes to my comfort level as a conservative who happens to be gay, here's what I know: while many conservatives are people of faith and their religion promotes a very different point of view than mine on homosexuality (and a few other things!), I have found conservatives to be more tolerant, more curious and more understanding of those who are different to them than I ever did when ensconced in US liberal leadership.
Are there religious extremists on the right? Of course, but they are marginalised and rejected. As an example, this year at CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference), considered the premier, annual conservative gathering in America, a speaker stepped up to the podium and began verbally to attack gays and lesbians. He was summarily booed from the stage by a conservative audience that refused to allow such bigotry to continue.
As you might have gathered, I prefer the honest, decent and genuinely accepting friends and family I have in the conservative world. We don't always agree on everything, but isn't that the point? – being able to be yourself, make choices that best suit you, without fear of punishment or retribution. My friendships and relationships in the conservative world are not predicated on political correctness and enforced conformity of thought. They are based, instead, on mutual respect, honesty and understanding – concepts many modern liberals should consider revisiting.
• Editor's note: the reference above to the Conservative Political Action Conference was erroneously titled the Conservative Political Action Committee; the article was amended at 12:00 on 24 October 2010.
Printable versionSend to a friendShareClipContact us larger smaller World newsRepublicans · US politics · Gay rights · United States · Freedom of speech More comment More from Comment is free onWorld newsRepublicans · US politics · Gay rights · United States · Freedom of speech Related
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On being out, proud and conservativeMy left-liberal experience was of intolerance if you dared challenge political correctness. The right is more accepting
Comments (…)
Tammy Bruce guardian.co.uk, Friday 22 October 2010 16.30 BST larger smaller Article history
California gay rights activists have led the way in campaigning for same-sex marriage to be recognised, with a significant recent legal victory and the support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Photograph: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson There's a little something I noticed in the reaction to my first article here at the Guardian – a question tucked in the midst of the hundreds of pithy and thoughtful reader contributions – I was asked: what is it like to be gay and conservative?
After all, those conservatives hate the homos, don't they? It must be very, very difficult for me, one concerned reader noted, to be among the intolerant and hateful.
Well, I do suppose I would rather bask in the unbridled sunlight of liberal values of fairness, tolerance and love so eloquently on display in many of the comments made on my first contribution here. I know, it seems like such an odd decision, to reject the Eden of the liberal establishment. Yet strangely, after having been on the left for so long myself, I began to wonder: how much love and understanding can one person take?
Presumably, "batshit crazy"is an English liberal term of endearment, right? When I read another commenter's description of American conservative women politicians as "a bunch of petty, incoherent shrews", I was filled with joy at realising how great it was to be among authentic feminists once again.
Having made my point, I trust, I'll now slip out of my snark suit and share a little secret with you. The real story of bigotry and intolerance is the fact that it lives and thrives on the left. As a gay woman who spent most of her adult life pushing the cart for liberal causes with liberal friends in a liberal city, I found that sexism, racism and homophobia are staples in the liberal world. The huge irony is liberals spend every ounce of energy promoting the notion that they are the banner carriers of individualism and personal freedom, yet the hammer comes down on anyone who dares not to conform to, or who dissents even in part from, the liberal agenda.
Think about what would happen if you did act up? If you dared to say you like Sarah Palin, or admire Margaret Thatcher, or think global warming is a hoax, or think Bill Clinton is a sexual predator, or that George W Bush isn't to blame for everything, or that Barack Obama has absolutely no clue what he's doing, you know there would be a price to pay. Odds are that your "liberal" friends would very liberally hate you. At the very least, being shunned would be your new experience, condemning you to suffer that horrific liberal malady called social death.
So, when it comes to my comfort level as a conservative who happens to be gay, here's what I know: while many conservatives are people of faith and their religion promotes a very different point of view than mine on homosexuality (and a few other things!), I have found conservatives to be more tolerant, more curious and more understanding of those who are different to them than I ever did when ensconced in US liberal leadership.
Are there religious extremists on the right? Of course, but they are marginalised and rejected. As an example, this year at CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference), considered the premier, annual conservative gathering in America, a speaker stepped up to the podium and began verbally to attack gays and lesbians. He was summarily booed from the stage by a conservative audience that refused to allow such bigotry to continue.
As you might have gathered, I prefer the honest, decent and genuinely accepting friends and family I have in the conservative world. We don't always agree on everything, but isn't that the point? – being able to be yourself, make choices that best suit you, without fear of punishment or retribution. My friendships and relationships in the conservative world are not predicated on political correctness and enforced conformity of thought. They are based, instead, on mutual respect, honesty and understanding – concepts many modern liberals should consider revisiting.
• Editor's note: the reference above to the Conservative Political Action Conference was erroneously titled the Conservative Political Action Committee; the article was amended at 12:00 on 24 October 2010.
Printable versionSend to a friendShareClipContact us larger smaller World newsRepublicans · US politics · Gay rights · United States · Freedom of speech More comment More from Comment is free onWorld newsRepublicans · US politics · Gay rights · United States · Freedom of speech Related
21 Sep 2010Lady Gaga joins Maine rally for repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Richard Adams
26 Aug 2010Senior Republican Ken Mehlman comes out as gay
26 Aug 2010Ken Mehlman, senior Republican party figure, reveals he is gay Richard Adams
12 May 2010Laura Bush: pro abortion and gay marriage Richard Adams
Printable versionSend to a friendShareClipContact usArticle history
On Comment is freeMost viewed Zeitgeist Latest Last 24 hours
1. Charlie Brooker All hail the human face of the coalition: Nick Clegg – sad-eyed defender of the new reality 2. On being out, proud and conservative Tammy Bruce 3. Obama was never going to have the room to effect radical change Gary Younge 4. The Tower Hamlets fiasco is localism at its very worst Julian Glover 5. In praise of … the English apple Editorial More most viewed Last 24 hours
Charlie Brooker All hail the human face of the coalition: Nick Clegg – sad-eyed defender of the new realityCartoon: Phil Disley on George Osborne's spending cutsObama was never going to have the room to effect radical change Gary YoungeOn being out, proud and conservative Tammy BruceJuan Williams and NPR PollMore zeitgeist What is Zeitgeist? Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news, topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in our blog post.
Last 24 hours
1. Central London 'super council' is part of a ruthless Tory ideology Susanna Rustin 2. Lausanne: the future of Christianity? The question 3. William James, part 2: The scientific study of religion Mark Vernon 4. Burma's sham elections Waihnin Pwint Thon 5. Gideon and Quietman All today's stories Bestsellers from the Guardian shop Loose top socks by HJ Hall
Twelve pairs (black, navy, grey and oatmeal) for only £24.99
From: £24.99
Visit the Guardian reader offers shopGreen & ethical shopping at Guardian ecostorecomment is free…Latest posts49min ago Central London 'super council' is part of a ruthless Tory ideology Susanna Rustin: Merging three central London borough councils is a way of cutting vital public services and centralising political power 26 comments 2hr 51min ago Burma's sham elections Waihnin Pwint Thon: Next month's elections won't be free or fair, and the international community must take action to end the dictatorship in my country
19 commentsComment from the paperPhil Disley on George Osborne's spending cuts
Peter Preston: Roy of the ragers
Gary Younge: Obama was never going to have the room to effect radical change
Latest news on guardian.co.ukLast updated less than one minute ago
NewsDavid Cameron outlines growth plans at CBI
Comment is freeObama was never going to have the room to effect radical change
This week's bestsellers 1. Delete This at Your Peril by Bob Servant £4.99
2. London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew £9.99
3. Just My Type by Simon Garfield £10.99
4. Eyewitness Decade by Roger Tooth £17.50
5. Whoops! by John Lanchester £7.50
Search the Guardian bookshop
Search Sponsored features Win a Nikon D5000 digital SLRPlus, top photo tips from Guardian camera club
Win a Nikon D5000 digital SLRPlus, top photo tips from Guardian camera club
Browse all jobs
jobs by
Ads by GoogleFed Up With Albany?
John McEneny opposes reform. You should oppose him. Vote him out
nyuprising.org
Related informationWorld newsRepublicans · US politics · Gay rights · United States · Freedom of speech More from Comment is free onWorld newsRepublicans · US politics · Gay rights · United States · Freedom of speech
Gallery (12 pictures): US right rally in Washington DC
28 Aug 2010:
Thousands of Tea Party activists from around the US gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to hear Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin speak on the 37th anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech
More galleries
18 Apr 2010US immigration's gay rights divide Stewart J Lawrence
5 Feb 2010Link-o-rama, #snomgasm edition Richard Adams
25 Nov 2008Adele Stan: Newt Gingrich is already setting the stage for a Republican comeback
23 Sep 2008Younge America: Don't get wedged off Obama
Video (1min 50sec), Don't get wedged off Obama
23 Sep 2008:
Gay marriage has been a wedge issue in recent elections. Gary Younge hopes Obama's race doesn't make him the wedge candidate
More video
License/buy our content Privacy policy Terms & conditions Advertising guide Accessibility A-Z index Inside guardian.co.uk blog About guardian.co.uk Join our dating site today
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