I know several conservatives who happen to be gay, and their sexuality really makes absolutely no difference to our friendships or business relationships. With my conservative gay friends, we have loads of we talk about in honest, fun, and lively discussions, and our mutual respect for each other means that their sexuality is a non-issue for us.
With the liberal gay people, however, there is always this uncomfortable sense that they are demanding respect for their lifestyles while they refuse to accord respect to you. But that is true of liberal heterosexuals as well. They have to broadcast their love lives to one and all, whether it is sensitive to the wishes of others, or not. It is the left that has to sexualize everything. (Think of that hilarious photo of Algore on the front of that magazine, showing off his "package", or the Clinton cover focused on his crotch, or the Heinz-sKerry clinch, or, or, or, ad nauseum). It's almost like they are (ahem) compensating for something.
Put me in the category of one who applauds Mary Cheney, and her parents, for being the illustration of "grace under pressure" on such a hot-button topic. My best wishes go to them all.
I am also curious do they ever come to places like freerepublic and read what other "conservatives" think about homosexuality?
Very true. We have several good friends who are gay and in committed relationships.
What they do with their sex lives is as irrelevant to me as what I do with my sex life is irrelevant to them.
The problem comes in when one's sexuality becomes their identity rather than an aspect of their lives.
Normal, healthy, conservative gay people abound!