Georgia Man 1st Openly Gay Republican Elected in Deep South
Brian Bates, a 36-year-old business owner and member of the Log Cabin Republicans who says he "disagrees with how the Republican party has handled gay issues," has been elected to the Doraville, Georgia City Council, making him the ninth openly gay official elected in Georgia and the first openly gay Republican elected in the state, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Doraville is northeast of Atlanta.
Said Bates: "I am gay and there's no reason to hide it. I made the conscious decision to be open and honest about my orientation. It really didn't come up with my conversations with voters and for the most part, I don't think they care. It was not a campaign issue. There is not a gay agenda. It wasn't an issue...Residents were waiting for someone to take a stand to protect the police chief. And this provided residents a way to show their support and get behind us...I don't think it's responsible to attack individuals. The Republican Party has been a party of freedom and acceptance and they need to stick to the policies that work and that's about being fiscally responsible...I was elected to represent the residents of Doraville and look forward to doing it with honor. And if it provides other opportunities for other candidates or encourages other individuals to run, I certainly encourage them to do so."
According to Georgia Equality, Bates is also the first openly gay Republican elected in the deep South.
Posted Nov. 27,2007 at 10:27 AM EST by Andy Towle in Brian Bates, Georgia, News, Republican Party | Permalink
Folks, this is just city council in Doraville! D'ville is just one of many, many ATL burbs about 10 miles north of where I live, just outside the perimeter of ATL (OTP). It's an ethnically diverse area and the end of the north MARTA line.
Not a big deal that this guy won. He looks like a former trick but that's another topic. ;-)
Posted by: ATLSteve | Nov 27, 2007 1:45:28 PM
So Jimmyboyo, so if you are so left of center doesn't that make you a communist?
Posted by: Matt | Nov 27, 2007 1:51:36 PM
Of course we are racist in Atlanta. It's the only place where there is two pride parades. One for the whites and one for the blacks.
Posted by: Matt | Nov 27, 2007 2:00:37 PM
While I also don't understand how any self-respecting gay person could belong to the Republican party or vote Republicans into major offices, I find it refreshing that an honestly OUT man has been elected instead of the usual homophobe and/or closet case zealots/nut cases that control the party. Maybe, just maybe, he'll educate some of his colleagues. The Republic party does (or once did) contain moderates; sadly, they're in short supply these days. And the ones with integrity, such as (now retired) jim Jeffords from VT, fled when it became clear that the present-day Repblican party was no longer broad enough to include people of tolerance.
Posted by: Ernie | Nov 27, 2007 2:24:09 PM
First, congratulations to Mr. Bates. Kudos for standing up, being out, and running an effective campaign. However, I'd ask him to wake up, smell the Sanka, stop peddling this the Republican party is for freedom stuff. Neither party in America has a monopoly on idiocy or lunacy. Neither is perfect. But, in a field of two, the Democrats are a better (not perfect) choice.
I have to ask myself about which Republican party is Mr. Bates speaking? The one from the 1860's? Is Radical Reconstruction back? I'm not going to waste time hating, but I do feel the need to point out that (as far a numbers go) most elected Republicans are self-declared economic liberals and social conservatives. Accordingly, they want the government to stay out of pocketbooks, but have no problem with the government being in our bedrooms. Think of the contradiction. I shouldn't tax you too much, but I am ok with the government picking favorites as to which type of family structure receives tax breaks. (Straight married people receive preferential tax treatment, while co-habiting straights or gays don't.)
Or, I think I should tell you if, when, and how you should have an abortion. Hmmm. A true believer in small government in the traditional sense, i.e., those conservatives with a lower-case "g", believe that the state should stay out of those decisions.
What about the Defense of Marriage Act? This was put up by Republicans as a wedge issue. Marriage, with pretty few exceptions, has been a legal issue for states. All of a sudden, the federal government needs to be involved in marriage issues?
Um, and what about the Department of Homeland Security? I thought the Republicans were about small government. Instead, you create the largest federal agency known to man in response to a crisis.
With all due respect to Mr. Bates, his concerns with the Republican party needs to be about more than about how they handle gay issues.
Otherwise, I think he risks coming off as insensitive and myopic.
Posted by: Brandon | Nov 27, 2007 2:26:20 PM
As they have said since the 1960's anyone can say they are GOP, ie, anti-black, anti-gay, anti-immigrant and get elected in the South since they seem to stand for nothing else, and have wasted more tax dollars in the past 8 years than in the past 50, so, this is a yawn.
Posted by: Sebastian | Nov 27, 2007 2:54:47 PM
“So Jimmyboyo, so if you are so left of center doesn't that make you a communist?-Matt”
OK MATT, I will answer that for you, as Jimmyboyo seems predisposed. To be left of the Democratic Party in America means one could have more of an affinity with say more progressive social democrats, Greens, or Democratic Socialists, all of who are very far right of modern authoritative communism. All of these leftist groups and others have little to no representation or power in the United States and communists have even less then that. The US political system is controlled by the moderate to moderate right pro-corporate Democrats and the Republican right. The major difference between the left and the right in the US then is that while the left and moderate left has little to no power, the right and even the far right of religious fundamentalists and the pro-corporate/pro-rich, hold most of the power. In other words, all the fundamentalism and extremism in our political system comes from the right despite what FOX news may have led you to believe.
Posted by: AdamN | Nov 27, 2007 4:29:56 PM
I meant "preoccupied with other things" not "predisposed"...
Posted by: AdamN | Nov 27, 2007 4:36:33 PM
ADAMN, your explanation makes sense. Thanks.
MATT: Thanks for doing your part in keeping this discussion going. I don't know about being a racist, but you got balls: to take the moderate/conservative devil's advocate position on a blog dominated by liberal Gays. You weren't scared of us...at all?
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Nov 27, 2007 5:08:43 PM
I just want to chime in about the city of Doraville in general. Atlanta as a whole is fairly removed from the rest of the "deep south." We are far more liberal than the rest of the state and resented as a result of it. I am in no way surprised that an openly gay man was elected to the Doraville City Council. Doraville is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse suburbs of the city. It just kind of irks me when people clump in Atlanta with the rest of the South when Atlantans differ greatly.
Posted by: Dusty | Nov 27, 2007 6:17:47 PM
I love that Andy shares this is one of his Frat Brother.
Imagine a white guy using CRIME (Black People) to get elected. Nothing new - anyone remember just that the former head of the RNC (A closeted gay repug) in a very lame attempt to win votes for W apologized for the Republican Party long standing "Law and Order" strategy. Yup just like this little local repug the National Repuglican Party had a written strategy to use Racism to win votes for Nixon and Reagan. Then they moved onto Homophobia. Any gay man who is a Republican and using CRIME as a tactic to get elected should be ignored not celebrated. The fact that he is gay and a Republcian makes he less worthy of coverage - except he is Andy's Frat Brother.
Posted by: rjp3 | Nov 27, 2007 6:18:25 PM
Just a few clarifications, RJP3:
A) I'm not Andy Towle. There's more than one gay Andy in the world - not that I expect you to realize this, as your entire post reeks of offensive assumptions.
B) I don't appreciate your total disregard for facts and your flawed logic in deducing that because he supports the "popular police chief" of Doraville that he campgaigned on a CRIME (black people) platform.
In fact, on his list of priorities on his campaign web site, he lists technology, recycling, community events, police/safety (encouraging community policing), financing, asesthetics and zoning ordinances. In that order.
C) You may not agree with his poltical affiliation, but automatically attacking someone based on broad stereotypes is wrong. Not that anyone has ever done that to teh gays...
D) This is news. He's the first openly gay Republican in the South. The posting/article didn't celebrate this, but it is noteworthy. You don't have to agree, but I'm sure a lot of people were surprised to see this and were interested to read it.
E) I'm a big, old liberal Democrat and am not defending the Republican party or its tactics. In fact, when I came out to my parents my dad told me, "Well, at least you're not a Republican."
Posted by: Andy | Nov 27, 2007 6:34:54 PM
So I am late to this thread...WOW! It disgusts me to know that I have been posting here for so long and yet NONE of you have learned anything.
Jimmyboyo, your comment "Log cabinites, they drop the n word 24/7" is close minded, inappropriate and wrong! I absolutely abhore the n word and will not use it under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!! I also happen to be a member of the log cabin.
And Derrick in Philly, I have never been scared of a liberal in my life. I have waded into some hot discussions on this blog and have yet to back down from my principles and beliefs.
I am gay, I am out, I am proud and I am a republican. I refuse to allow anyone to associate me with a racist and I refuse to back down when in the presence of those that disagree! I have stated many times why I identify as a republican on this blog. I KNOW what I stand for and I vote for the candidate. If I have to occasionally cross party lines for the right person I do. Having said that, I have NEVER voted for George W. Bush! How many of you can say that you would cross party lines and vote for the "right" candidate"? After reading some of the "trash" that many of you have written, the answer would be none I am sure. I live in Atlanta and I was extremely proud of Brian Bates for winning. After reading some of you narrow minded posts...I am not so proud of some of you!
Take care
RB
Posted by: RB | Nov 27, 2007 7:21:59 PM
And to Peterparker, you are so misguided! We have disagreed before, and yet again, I believe that you are wrong. Imagine that....I really have no other words for you. JUST WRONG!
Take care
RB
Posted by: RB | Nov 27, 2007 7:25:51 PM
RB, I have always said that I will never be able to fathom a gay republican. I also say I'll never be able to fathom someone into scat. The difference is that people who are into scat aren't harming me. You, sir, if you support the Republicans, are a self-declared enemy of mine.
Posted by: freddie | Nov 27, 2007 8:51:16 PM
Freddie, Freddie, not so quick to judge me my friend. Oh yes, that is right, you are not my friend as you do not know me. I believe that to be called "discrimination". Oh yeah, we are gay...we NEVER discriminate and we are always accepting of others.
Posted by: RB | Nov 27, 2007 10:14:46 PM
Um, so if the Republicans are the anti-gay party, why was it under a Democratic President and Democratic Congress that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was passed?
Posted by: LightningLad | Nov 27, 2007 10:24:01 PM
LightningLad,
don't ask a lazy, snide question and expect a reasonable response. YOU look up the history of DADT, then we might talk.
@RB: a gay repug is like a nazi-jew.
Posted by: nic | Nov 28, 2007 4:18:15 AM
Well after taking a night off from reading these post it's obvious why gays have zero politcal cred in this country. It seems on here that all the democrats, liberals, social liberals, greens, and whomever else left of center can only spout trash. It's horrible that people on her are being called racist, enemy, nazi-jew, and so on. I spent some time in the middle east and this is exactly how different factions of Muslims (Sunni, Shite, etc) speak of each other.
For someone who has never voted (me), you people just reinforce exactly why I have no interest in the political process.
Posted by: Matt | Nov 28, 2007 9:40:01 AM
Matt, I was just pointing out to you the vast difference between being left of the Democrats and being a communist. It was a really ludicrous question that you put forward to Jimmyboyo, right out of some far right play book.
I'm glad you don't vote. After reading your asinine opinions on this blog over the last year it’s pretty obvious that you are uninformed and naive about the reality of our political quagmire. The last thing we need are people like you voting.
Posted by: AdamN | Nov 28, 2007 3:00:45 PM
Thanks Adam. Ever think your opinions may just be asinine and if my comments are asinine then so are the vast majority of people in this country. Not that I care, you are just some dumbass who does nothing but reside in the confines of the gayborhood and knows nothing of the world.
Posted by: Matt | Nov 28, 2007 4:01:47 PM
Matt, there is nothing in my comments to suggest that I live in a gayborhood (I don’t) or that I'm out of touch with the vast majority of people who live in this country (I don’t think I have ever have said anything on this blog to suggest I am or am not in touch or that I particularly care either way). You're making assumptions about me without any evidence behind them. Is it just because I disagree with you that you consider me “out of touch”? That’s a really pathetic argument.
Your comments frequently reveal an intellect that is grossly uninformed about the issues that you so casually spout off about. Often you sound like you are just regurgitating Rush Limbaugh's ridiculous right wing talking points. That is what many people here find so frustrating about your comments and why I am personally glad that you won’t be voting.
Posted by: AdamN | Nov 29, 2007 4:32:22 AM
"...then so are the vast majority of people in this country..."
Appeals to popular opinion are merely that, and not a true evaluation of the merits of an argument or position. Popular opinion can be just as hurtful, evil, and tyrannical as any prince or potentate, which is why we were founded as a Republic and not a democracy.
Secondly, most of the gay Republicans I know are racist, but unlike most of the gay Democrats I know, they admit it, and then go on to affirm something fairly remarkable. They say that, despite their personal problems with whatever ethnicity, that's a problem that is theirs and theirs alone, and should never affect how they treat another human being. Furthermore, most of them, with a couple of exceptions, work very hard to be as open, impartial and accepting of all ethnicities, hoping that such a practice might, in time, undo the racist conditioning that they have had over the decades of their lives.
Despite the fact that my partner and I are Democrats, I know few of my fellow party members who would ever admit that the problem starts with them, and instead take the party line that they've got all the answers for their unenlightened political adversaries.
Posted by: Clint | Dec 2, 2007 12:31:16 AM