GOProud Leader Discusses Gay Conservatives

GOProud executive director Jimmy LaSalvia agrees with Andrew Breitbart that it is challenging to be a gay conservative, where he finds the "vast majority" of criticism comes from the more liberal segment of the gay community.

Breitbart, a GOProud advisory board member married to a woman, appeared on WNYC on Wednesday and discussed the gay conservative vote with host Brian Lehrer. On Thursday, LaSalvia followed up the conversation and responded to comments from Breitbart about topics including gay opposition to marriage equality and the challenges of being a gay conservative.

"I think what Andrew said was, 'Imagine being a conservative in the gay community,' and that's really where we experience the most intolerance, is... the gay left is, by far the most intolerant toward us," said LaSalvia. "Are there some on the right that don't like gay people? Sure, but the vast majority of our critics come from the left, are on the left."

Breitbart also discussed the significance of the gay vote, which LaSalvia supported with exit poll data. According to statistics he cited, some 28% of gay voters supported John McCain for president in 2008, and 31% supported Republican candidates in the midterm elections.

Asked whether some gay people oppose marriage equality, LaSalvia, said, ""I think there are some, yeah."

Listen to the interview here.