Who needs enemies?

I've never understood the concept of Gay Conservatives. Given how much scorn conservative politicians reserve for the gay community, both here and in the States, it's hard to understand how anyone could reconcile such conflicting ideologies.

Perhaps they're followers of leading philosopher and hotpants ambassador Kylie Minogue, believing it's better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't. By dry-humping the enemy, maybe they get first dibs on what new policies are being devised to further strip away their rights and maintain that sense of second-class citizenship to which they've grown accustomed.

Nonetheless, there's a thriving movement in the States, enabling homosexual fans of small government and minimal taxation to celebrate their conservative roots. Perhaps the most famous group is the Log Cabin Republicans, who claim to "advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians" from within the GOP.

But there's another group who also claim to look out for the interests of LGBT citizens, and they're stealing some of the Log Cabin's thunder. GOProud's paradoxical mission is to emphasize "conservative principles such as limited government, individual liberty, and national defense over what are usually considered bedrock issues of gay politics such as gay marriage, criminalizing targeted violence against gays and lesbians, and recognition of sexual orientation as a protected civil rights class."

They've been in the news this week because they're currently planning Homocon 2010, their very first celebration of gay conservativism, and have selected a somewhat controversial 'special guest' - Ann Coulter.

A polemicist and political commentator, who can often be found on Fox News screeching over anyone with a coherent viewpoint, Ann goes out of her way to offend people with her willingness to be anything other than "impartial or balanced". For instance, Ann claims that "If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women." Great role model right?

In much the same way that Ann's happy recommending that her own voting rights be removed, GOProud think that she's the ideal celebrity to headline their forthcoming party. It doesn't seem to matter that she called John Edwards a 'faggot' in 2007, or that she took a pop at "irritating lesbian Constance McMillen" for daring to argue that she had a right to attend her prom.

Apparently, Ann has even described herself as the 'the right wing Judy Garland' - although perhaps that just means she's going to overdose before she takes to the stage. Or maybe she's planning to announce to the world what many people have long suspected, that she puts the 'T' in LGBT. Critics maintain that she has an Adam's apple the size of Dolph Lundgren's fist, and have lovingly renamed her 'Man Coulter'.

Whatever her reasons for attending Homocon (besides the considerable appearance fee), the real question is why would any self-respecting gay man want to hear what this hateful harpy has to say. It's like dipping your kids in honey and then asking a grizzly bear to babysit.

But then again, the gay community has always struggled with self-destructive behaviour, from drug abuse and alcoholism to unsafe sexual practices. Inviting Ann Coulter to the party is just the latest in a long line of harmful activities.