GOProud made the following statement in response to a recent article that was published about GOProud “shutting down for good.”
“The truth is, GOProud has had some preliminary discussions about rebranding. That is, changing our name. As with any organization- when new challenges arise, we react with necessary adjustments.” Said Matthew Bechstein, Executive Director of GOProud (pictured).
“There have been concerns among our members and investors, about whether or not we can continue to grow and be effective without severing ourselves from past controversies. Nonetheless, at this point nothing has been decided. We are still discussing all the possibilities, and would be months away from instituting any real changes.
“The fact is, in order to continue promoting the conservative principles upon which this organization was founded, change is needed. One of the changes under discussion is a switch to a different legal type of organization- basic paperwork that requires dissolution and immediate subsequent reorganization. Technically, as some argue, this would be a legal “closure.” But if it were to actually happen, it would only be momentary and certainly not the end of our organization. Rather, I would see it as progress- making the necessary adjustments that allow us to fulfill our goals.”
“Let me be clear, no matter what happens, our grassroots infrastructure, and our daily activism will continue throughout any possible transition. We do not plan to stop working.
“What has made this organization strong in the past is the support and devotion of our membership, I don’t expect that to waiver in the future. We are a family, and families stick together through periods of change," concluded Bechstein.
Today GOProud released the following statement commending U.S. Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania for his recent declaration of support for same-sex marriage .
“We are proud to have Rep. Dent among the ranks of thousands of modern conservatives, who value individual rights and believe that in America, freedom applies to everyone.” Said Matthew Bechstein, Executive Director of GOProud (pictured left).
“Rep. Dent has arrived to a conclusion on marriage that aligns him with several conservative leaders in congress; it is yet another example of where the winning Republican Party is headed.
“As support for expanding marriage freedom grows among the American electorate, leaders like Rep. Dent will continue to come around on the issue. That is why it is essential for organizations like GOProud continue their important work” Bechstein concluded.
GOProud has released the following statement
regarding their endorsements of Terri Lynn Land (USS-MI), Susan Collins
(USS-ME), Dan Innis (USH-NH), Richard Tisei (USH-MA), Brian Nestande
(USH-CA), and Carl DeMaio (USH-CA).
“GOProud endorses candidates whose work reflects the three conservative
tenets of our mission statement – free markets, limited government, and a
respect for individual rights; core principles that benefit the lives
of all Americans, gay or straight. These candidates represent a modern
conservative approach to the tough issues Americans face today, and we
are proud to lend them our full support. We know they will continue to
make us proud throughout their careers in public service,” said Matthew
Bechstein, Co-Director of GOProud.
Bechstein continued, “It’s time to elect candidates who will go to
Washington as change agents. Today, hyperpartisan blame-games and big
government intrusion are all a part of politics-as-usual in Washington.
As a voice for young conservatives, GOProud is standing up for the
future of our Party, and we’re taking responsibility for the future of
this Country.”
Sarah Palin said this week that the inclusion of gay conservative group GOProud at the upcoming Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington should not be cause for some groups to boycott the event. Numerous social conservative groups have bowed out of the event, but Palin said she believed engaging with GOProud would have been a better idea.
"[T]he more information that people have the better," Palin told the Christian Broadcasting Network.
