Catania Quits GOP Over Anti-Gay Amendment - 365Gay.Com

[WillyT]

<snip>

(Washington) Washington, D.C. Councilman David Catania, once the GOP's top fundraiser in the District, officially quit the Republican party Wednesday over its continuing attacks on gays.

"Today marks the end of my journey as a Republican," Catania said in a statement. He is now registered as an independent. "On a personal note, this decision is extremely painful and difficult. It will almost certainly lead to a loss of cherished friends within the Republican Party for whom I have an enormous amount of respect and gratitude. In spite of this fact, I will no longer rationalize my association with a political party that has so badly betrayed my values and principles."

The openly gay Catania has publicly voiced his opposition for months to the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. As a result of his opposition he was removed in May as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He signaled at the time that he felt no longer welcome in the party and would leave.

The 36 year old joined the GOP when he was 16.

<snip>

Link: http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/09/092904catania.htm

Ya gotta love it. The rePukes just keep shooting themselves in the foot, and losing life-long supporters because of it.

:kick:

[Romulus]

1. really

Catania could have been the GOP's biggest PR coup ever, since he is a gay member of the DC City Council (of all things)

but of course, the GOP extremist mentality eventually drives off the thinking people sooner or later . . .

[Aristus]

2. Yeah, but they still have legions of young, black male gay

followers, right? Right?

I don't see it. Any gay person, I would think, would abandon the Repukes and become an independent, or Libertarian, if they were in all other ways conservative.

[msmcghee]

9. The "strong Father" worldview . .

. . requires allegiance to the guy in charge - above all else. it's about obedience. And aligning yourself with that male power figure.

Libertarians and Independents have no-one in that category. That's why it is so painful for him to leave. He is disavowing his allegiance to the current alpha-male power figure - GW Bush. That goes directly against his worldview ideology.

[faithnotgreed]

3. im glad for catania. ive watched him on the dc council

and he seems a man of integrity and responsibility. im sorry for his personal pain with rejecting the party he has been loyal to for 20 yrs but hes made a wise and necessary decision.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Good on Ray.

Someone needs to tell him that after an appropriate grief period, there is a party that represents his interests as a Gay American and a Whole American.

[WillyT]

5. Yeah, I Think They Go Independent As A Sort Of Half-Way-House Move !!!

When he's ready, the Dems will welcome him with open arms!

:kick:

[ewagner]

6. Escape from "the big tent"

Repubs like to brag that they're a "big tent" party. Supposedly everybody is welcome but it's just another lie.....

Catania discovered the ugly truth.

[Catfight]

7. Ring Ring...wake up call for you! Purchase a ticket for the clue bus!

[AspenRose]

8. The GOP could care less

if they lose legions of gay, or black, or hispanic members.

They just don't care.

The more white and straight (and FUNDAMENTALIST) the GOP, the better....then they can air their prejudices out in the open, without repression or censure from "more sensitive" republicans (does that animal even exist?).

[msmcghee]

10. A soul wrenching experience like this . .

. . could cause someone to change their worldview 180 degrees. But at his age that is unlikely. I think he'll start another gay oriented GOP group that will support gay friendly (marriage amendment opposing) repukes. Maybe he'll run on that platform.

It'll be a tough sell because "girly men" are so opposite of the underlying concept of the "strong Father" worldview. Expect some real mental contortions to explain away the cognitive dissonance of that.

[SkipNewarkDE]

11. Watch Angels in America

... for insight into what makes a young gay have loyalty for the Republican party, as in the character of the sexually confused Mormon Joe.