Conservative gay rights group excluded from CPAC

>> in two weeks the conservative government group is hosting an annual conference in washington. gop leaders from marco rubio to mitt romney will be speaking, but one group will not be there. go proud. which is a republican gay rights organization. he said the group was excluded because they, quote, did not act properly as guests in the past. take a listen.

>> from time to time the organizations and individuals that we think go over the top when there are guests at cpac . and for years we decided again not to invite them for the following year.

>> but what did they do?

>> joining me now, go proud cofounder and executive director jimmy lasilvie. it's good to see you.

>> thank you for having me on.

>> what is he talking about?

>> i would like to know what he thinks a gracious host should be, because we were sponsors of cpac for two and a half -- two years. and for two and a half of those years we were challenged by forces on their board and in outside organizations who wanted us kicked out simply because we're gay, and they fought us because they don't believe that simply because of our sexual orientation we should be a part of the conservative movement . and so what happened two years ago is one of our members said something about a board member and he apologized for it. and that's the excuse.

>> what did he say?

>> he used a name that sometimes is used. and he apologized to her. and that's what they were hanging their hat on two years ago when they kicked us out. for the two and a half years before that we were facing boycotts and challenges because we're gay.

>> your group has been fairly critical of cpac in the past. why do you want to go at all?

>> no. we haven't been critical of cpac . we were a sponsor for two years. education specially this year. we just went through a horrible election cycle. we need a mod rn coalition that can win. the new modern conservative coalition has to include gay americans. and it has to include recognition that many americans and many, many conservatives, more every day, support sieve marriage for gay couples.

>> two reporters here at msnbc have turned down the invitation because go proud will not be there. what else can be done to send a message to c-pack?

>> we need a broad a base in the conservative movement as possible and we need to get our message out to everybody in america, including gay people and frankly, the family and friends of gay people who have a misperception that conservatives don't like gays.

>> you say that. more than any republican officials including john huntsman, were among those who signed a letter supporting same-sex marriage as well. does that not at least help?

>> well, the thing about it is marriage is a conservative value. and conservatives want their gay friends and family to settle down and get marrieded and be happy. and more and more people are seeing it that way. more and more are supporting the marriage.

>> jimmy, thank you. appreciate your time on this saturday.

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