Tuesday night, I went to an LA press club gathering of bloggers at the L.A. Athletic Club. And there I was fortunate to meet many people whom I had only previously known from their words on the screen. I didn’t at first recognize Roger Simon as he wasn’t wearing the hat he sports in his blog photo. A decent fellow, Roger asked about this blog’s founder. The ever charming BoiFromTroy was there as well. Hugh Hewitt was as gracious, friendly and engaging as I imagined him to be.
Hugh was familiar with this blog’s recent controversy and was delighted to learn that the blog is still going strong, saying, “Glad you’re keeping the flag raised.”
I also met blogress Cathy Seipp, whose wise and witty blog I only recently discovered, thanks to the “ADVOCATE.” (Although not a lesbian, she was the one conservative on their must-read list of bloggers.) And I was impressed that the L.A. TIMES Sunday Opinion editor Bob Sipchen showed up at a crowd largely hostile to his paper. Indeed, Patterico, one of the toughest critics of the Times, was a featured speaker at the event.
Giovindini Murty updated me about the Liberty Film Festival; conservative film-lovers should bookmark her site. Impressed by the quality of conversation of the bloggers I met, I discovered some great new blogs, including SoCalPundit, Baldilocks, Luke Ford and Matt Szabo. I met other great people, but did not alas write down all their names. (MEMO to Bloggers–next time print up cards with the name of your blog.)
And I met Mickey Kaus whose blog was the first I linked as a blogger. I liked Mickey. His intensity, in some ways, matched my own; he was eager to engage me in conversation on gay marriage, particularly speculating why many people, including those tolerant and accepting of gay people, oppose gay marriage. We also discussed our shared passion for driving cross country and I impressed upon him the beauty of North Dakota, a state which I drove across last August. So, let me give his blog a plug, even as I note that our styles are quite different, he, more stream of consciousness, I, essayistic.
It was a great event. And it was good to meet the faces behind words which educate, entertain and enlighten me. Hugh talked about how the media marketplace is changing and bloggers are becoming increasingly important as sources of news and commentary, the theme of his book (which I reviewed here). Given the quality of last night’s crowd, that’s a good thing.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com
UPDATE: Hugh provides a more complete list of the bloggers at last night’s shindig.
UPDATE #2: Others blogging on the event include Cathy’s World, SoCalPundit, Flapsblog (with pictures), Luke Ford and Mickey Kaus.
UPDATE #3: Patterico offers his thoughts on the shindig here. And while you’re at his site, check out his great coverage of the LA TIMES’ bias.

When I received my copy of the Advocate this afternoon with my “snail mail,” I naturally ripped it open to read the cover story, “Revenge of the Bloggers.” Alas, that this was largely a story on the “outing” of Jeff Gannon. And while reporter Jen Christensen wrote, “Bloggers–even gay bloggers–are not uniformly anti-Bush,” she only lists one gay blogger (the very Mr. Gannon) who supports the president.
I have already put in a call to the magazine to see why this reporter all but ignored gay conservative blogs. And not just this one. She could also note the Wizbang winner for Best LGBT blog, BoiFromTroy (who bested this blog by a mere 16 votes). Or a number of other good conservative (& libertarian) blogs which appear on our blogroll, including Another Gay Republican, Gay and Right, North Dallas Thirty, Queer Conservative, Rick Sincere’s News and Views and Romeo Mike, to name just a few.
Once again, it seems the “mainstream” gay media is ignoring gay conservative voices.

Because I am busier than expected while out of town taking classes in Mythology, I regret that blogging will be light for a few days. I do have much to say, but, after spending a day studying the archetypes of Greek gods and goddesses and currently preparing for a day of intense study of the work and significance of a most complex man, the great Carl Jung, I’m not sure how lucidly I would blog. I’ll try to say something tomorrow (Tuesday) night, but may not be back to regular blogging until Thursday.

Before I turn in tonight, I wanted to note that as of today, I have been blogging for six months. To honor that, I reference my “virgin post” and quote again the words of the great Albert Camus with which I entered the blogosphere:

Something in us has been destroyed by the spectacle of the years just past. And this something is the eternal confidence of man, which has always made him believe that one could draw human reactions from another man by speaking to him in the language of humanity. We have seen lying, debasing, killing, deportations, torture, and each time it was not possible to persuade those who were doing it not to do it, because they were so sure of themselves and because one cannot persuade an abstraction, that is to say, the representative of an ideology.
The long conversation of mankind has just ended. And, of course, a man whom one cannot persuade is a man who frightens us….
We live in terror because persuasion is no longer possible, because man has been delivered entirely to history and because he can no longer turn to that part of himself, as true as the historical part, which he discovers in front of the beauty of the world and of human faces…

The Century of Fear from “COMBAT,” November 1946 (my translation)
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

In 1998, when I attended the Log Cabin convention in Dallas as president of the Log Cabin Republican Club of Northern Virginia, I brought with me The Virginia Plan, a report I had written and our board had unanimously approved, for consideration at the convention’s strategy session. Alas, that that session was limited to remarks by LCR’s then-Executive Director. I distributed the plan and received feedback from several club leaders, but none from the national office.
Our board approved a second plan in February 1999 which I hand delivered to the then-chairman of LCR national. He never got back to me.
This year, while no longer a club officer in Log Cabin, I found that I enjoyed greater respect at the convention in New Orleans than I had at a similar conclave nearly seven years earlier in Dallas. A number of national officers indicated that they were familiar with the blog. In his speech at the banquet Saturday night, LCR President Patrick Guerriero noted that “blogs” were one of the sources of Log Cabin’s criticism. As I reported earlier, someone close to the national office asked that I “write good things.” He knew we had an impact.
This blog has earned the attention of the Board, something which I could not accomplish as president of a chapter which grew from 10 members at its founding in June 1997 to just under 60 a year later. And we owe it all to the guy with the guts to found GayPatriot, the guy with the guts to speak openly for gay conservatives who, while not always agreeing with the president, did generally admire him and supported his reelection. We owe it all to our founder, the GayPatriot.
I knew this weekend that every time I identified myself as GayPatriotWest to someone at the convention and that individual recognized the blog, I would not have been called a “celebrity” had GP not invited me on board six months ago.
Largely because of him, the Log Cabin leadership is paying more attention to gay Republican critics of the organization. And the world can better see the diverse views of gay conservatives.
So many readers have e-mailed (or Instant Messaged) me to express concern for this blog’s founder. They miss his wit — and his insight. And, like me, they are grateful for what he has accomplished.
So, thanks, GP. We miss you — and want you back.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

This morning, in New Orleans for the Log Cabin Convention, I made my first tough decision as sole blogger on GayPatriot. I had to decide whether to post on the lawsuit filed against LCR while attending the LCR convention. It seemed an unusual place to have to make that choice.
This information did not come to me out of the blue. A source had e-mailed me several days ago about this. I chose not to post anything as he had not provided any evidence. But, when I received the documentation this morning, ironically moments before I registered for the convention, I realized I had to make a decision.
I chose to post because the documents could be easily authenticated. And they are an item of public record. This blog has frequently commented on Log Cabin, posting items positive as well as negative. This story was clearly the province of GayPatriot.org. That said, I realize there are two sides to any case, so I asked Chris Barron to comment.
In the coming days, I will follow the case and will post as soon as I can what information I deem newsworthy. Should representatives of Log Cabin offer any comments (for the record) on the case while I’m here in New Orleans, I will post them as soon as I am able.
Our legal system gives both sides the opportunity to make their case. I believe that principle should extend to the court of public opinion as well. One individual has filed a complaint against Log Cabin. He has begun to make his case. Through this posting, you can access the documents and see his side. I expect that in a short while, Log Cabin will respond to his claim in court. I will make those documents available to you as they become available to me.
With both the complaint and response in hand, you will have a clear picture of the case and be better able to judge for yourself.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

I have been deeply touched by the numerous supportive e-mails and Instant Messages I have received from readers of this blog. Since Friday when the controversy broke — and especially since yesterday morning when a number of blogs reported on it — every single e-mail I have received on the topic (that’s right every e-mail) has been positive, even those from a number of readers who have frequently criticized our posts. Social conservatives have sent kind words as well as liberal gay activists.
So, despite a few nasty comments, the support and encouragement I have received from readers has helped keep alive my faith in humanity.
I am delighted that a number of you have expressed the hope that we could persuade GP to start blogging again. I very much want him back on here. I love the way we complement each other.
Thank you all for your kind words of support at a trying time for this blog. It’s because of readers like you that this blog has done as well as it has.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

Christian Grantham, a genuine nice guy and good friend to this blog, reports that another blogger has been silenced. This time, it’s LimeShurbert, also a friend to this blog. I appreciate LimeShurbert’s support and am delighted that he is determined to be heard. And I am doing everything I can so that I once again have a blog-league — the same good fellow as before.
UPDATE: The silencing was only temporary. As EMT907 notes in the comments, “Lime Shurbert is back with both guns blazing, it would seem.” Yep, he’s back, blogging right here, writing, “I am gay. I am a member of the Republican Party, and I am not going anywhere.” That makes two of us (at least).
And let’s hope that another silenced gay Republican blogger will soon be joining him in returning to the blogosphere.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

As I learned this morning upon logging on, a number of bloggers have picked up on my blog-league’s departure. Our pal Christian Grantham has commented here. Little Green Footballs, the Washington Blade, Stolen Thunder and Polipundit, Dirty Harry and Patriots for Bush have also weighed in. I have even been told that Andrew Sullivan mentioned it.
I understand that my former blog-league has been in contact with attorneys.
For the record, I will say no more than that and will appreciate that people not ask me about it, especially when I am in New Orleans later this week for the Log Cabin convention. In fact, I don’t know all that much myself.
I appreciate the good wishes that many of you have extended to me as I continue this blog and the support you have expressed for GP. He’s a good guy and I’m honored to call him a friend. So, again, out of respect for that friendship, please do not ask me to comment any more on this controversy.
I am determined to keep this blog going, a voice for those gay and lesbian conservatives whose voices are too often ignored in the MSM and frequently silenced by the Gay Street establishment.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

I was as surprised as you were to learn yesterday that my blog-league would be unable to continue blogging.
When Instapundit first linked me to this blog, I had never even met him. We began a correspondence and soon he invited me to join the blog — for which I am eternally grateful. It has given me the chance to share my views with a growing readership. And to help provide a voice for nearly one-quarter of gay and lesbian Americans whose views are often drowned out by the “gay establishment.”
I got to meet GP and his partner last fall when they passed through Los Angeles on their way to Australia. They are both wonderful people. I am honored to call GP a friend. While I am saddened that we will no longer be blogging together, I am grateful that our friendship will continue.
I will truly miss blogging with him. While it is often uncanny how similar our ideas are, we have very different blogging styles. I liked the way we complemented each other, he far wittier than I and maybe a tad more polemical while I strive to be philosophical, reflective. I believe that balance accounted for the rapid growth of our readership.
Now, as a solitary blogger, I know this blog will not be able to cover as much as it did. I will continue to press the points that we have been making — as well as to consider other issues of interest to me.
To those of you who complain that we don’t take on social conservatives as much as you think we should, please note that we only have a limited amount of time to blog. And often I try to cover angles which I don’t see covered on other blogs, particularly other gay blogs, but also other conservative blogs.
I will do my best to blog regularly, but please understand that with grad school and other obligations, I may not be able to post as often as I would like. And given the upcoming Log Cabin convention which I will be attending in New Orleans as well as my grad school work, blogging may be light in the next couple of weeks.
As always, I welcome your comments and your e-mails and will strive to answer every e-mail I receive and, as time permits, join in the comment threads to my posts.
As grateful as I am to my former blog-league for giving me this opportunity, I am also grateful to you, our readers, for reading our posts and engaging me. Especially to those of you who have written to encourage me after yesterday’s announcement. I know many of you join me in wishing GP well. I look forward to building upon the legacy that he began.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

For personal and professional reasons that I am unable to fully discuss, I have to stop blogging as GayPatriot effective immediately. This has been a great experience for me and I have learned a lot. And I have met a lot of good people along the way (if only through email). As of this moment, I am no longer affiliated with this blog and I turn over all control to GayPatriotWest who will keep the fires going. Thank you for letting me come into your homes since last September. It has been an honor.

A hearty PatriotWelcome to a new member of our GayPatriot extended family. GayandRight hails from Ottawa in the land of our neighbors to the north. I would imagine that being gay and conservative in Canada is probably more frustrating at times than being in the USA. Just a hunch.
Welcome G&R… and nice posting today on the media bias toward John Kerry in last year’s election.

Good morning everyone. There seems to be a problem with our server this morning. The little green elves behind the curtain are working on it. If you make it to the site, consider this post “Open Thread Thursday.”

Yesterday and today, I have noticed a lot of referrals coming to GayPatriot from AnotherGayRepublican. So I wanted to show the love and throw some thanks his way!
I don’t see many referrals coming from Andrew Sullivan… oh that’s right, he’s not blogging anymore, is he? Heh, heh.

You know this Ridor guy is very obsessed with commenting on this blog. He insults other commentors to the point that I’ve repeatedly asked him (nicely at first) to stop visiting her. But he is like a stalker, so I’ve had to ban him from the site. But now, he still sends me hate mail like this (spelling and grammatical errors left intact):

you re typical loser — you lcaim to be reputable. but you lack the
name of your own — just like jeff gannon.
get a life. i can always hop on a public computer and gets in your hair. simply like that.

Woo weee…. let’s hop on that publik computre and gits in me hair, fella.
Sheesh. And he wants ME to get a life. LOL.

Jeez, I’m away for a week for work and suddenly there is a twitter of speculation here and here that Christian Grantham may be GayPatriot. Let me say unequivocally that is not the case. Christian addresses the whole thing on his site as well. Anyone who is a serious reader of our blogs can’t possibly think we are the same person anyway. That is just silly.
Let me remind folks that I have addressed my background before, once in this very early posting. I’ll add a couple of more items that should prove I’m not Christian Grantham. I have been a life-long registered Republican voter since I turned 18 years old. I am also in my late 30s. I don’t know how old Christian is, but I’m guessing I have a few years on him.
Here’s the best part about this…. neither one of these speculators has contacted either Christian or I directly to ask us. So it makes the wild-eyed Oliver Stone routine even more laughable.
And now here is the story of how Christian came to be the registered user of GayPatriot.org and .net….
[Read more…]

The blogosphere in action.
Hat tip: Jonah Goldberg in the Corner.
Apologies to Dantoine.

I’m pleased to present the new format for the GayPatriot blog. Many thanks to Christian Grantham for his tireless efforts to make this look the way I think I want it to.
A lot of the inspiration for this new format comes from PatrickRuffini’s new site. I liked the ‘red state’ banner and some of the other graphic elements he used. Thanks, Patrick.
Some things to look out for…. You will note the jet plane crossing the banner… remember, Red State America is “flyover” country. Also, in response to readers requests, we have added Trackbacks.
I welcome comments and suggestions on how to improve and tweak the new look. I decided to launch today and worry about the minor glitches as we move along. So please comment!
Please note especially the new address — GayPatriot.org. We have moved off of Blogger.com (hallelujah!) but those who still go to the old URL are being redirected here.
Finally, the purchase of GayPatriot.org was intentional. I’d like this to be a community of gay and lesbian Americans who want to find a new way. A way to reach out to Red State America. A way to find common ground with the Republican majority in Washington and in our various state capitals. We have to raise our voices from within the Party and change people’s perceptions and minds one-at-a-time if we have to.
We will work with or without Log Cabin Republicans as appropriate. But I want this ‘virtual organization’ to truly represent the views of the million-plus gay voters and our friends and family who support President Bush — especially in this time of war that our nation will face for a long while. This is our start at an answer to MoveOn.org….. GetOverIt.org, you could say. (Thanks, PatriotPal in NJ for that.)
You will notice on the right-hand column a place to enter your email address. This will give GPW and I the ability to reach out to those of you who want extra postings, special bulletins, possible social gatherings in the future, etc. Think of it as free premium membership. And, I’d like to dub this group the “23 Percent Club” — in honor of the exit poll numbers of gay and lesbian voters for Bush in 2004. (Thanks to Bart from Indiana for the awesome name!)
So welcome again to GayPatriot.org. As always, it is a pleasure to write for you and have you visit.
-GayPatriot: gaypatriot2004@aol.com