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A Rarity at a Republican Convention: ‘I Am Proud to Be Gay’ A Rarity at a Republican Convention: ‘I Am Proud to Be Gay’
(about 2 hours later)
CLEVELAND — Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur, is expected to declare “I am proud to be gay” in a speech on Thursday night, making him the first person believed to utter those words from the stage of a Republican National Convention. CLEVELAND — Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur, declared “I am proud to be gay” in a speech on Thursday night, making him the first person believed to utter those words from the stage of a Republican National Convention.
Mr. Thiel’s remarks, contained in a draft of the speech obtained by The New York Times, will come about an hour before Mr. Trump is set to speak, one of the most coveted slots of the week. And he will help cap a convention that began with Republicans’ ratifying what supporters and opponents alike described as their most socially conservative platform ever. Mr. Thiel’s remarks came about an hour before Mr. Trump spoke, one of the most coveted slots of the week. And he helped cap a convention that began with Republicans’ ratifying what supporters and opponents alike described as their most socially conservative platform ever.
Mr. Thiel is a libertarian who has been drawn to Mr. Trump by a shared belief that America is involved in too many interventions overseas, but his involvement in Republican politics and his embrace of Mr. Trump has made him something of an outlier in Silicon Valley.Mr. Thiel is a libertarian who has been drawn to Mr. Trump by a shared belief that America is involved in too many interventions overseas, but his involvement in Republican politics and his embrace of Mr. Trump has made him something of an outlier in Silicon Valley.
His sexuality, and his willingness to embrace it publicly in front of such a large audience, makes him even more of an outlier for a Republican convention.His sexuality, and his willingness to embrace it publicly in front of such a large audience, makes him even more of an outlier for a Republican convention.
When Jim Kolbe, an openly gay congressman from Arizona, addressed the convention in 2000, he spoke about trade policy, making no mention of being gay or of gay rights. But that did not stop delegates from Texas, home of the nominee, Gov. George W. Bush, from removing their hats, bowing their heads and praying in a silent protest.When Jim Kolbe, an openly gay congressman from Arizona, addressed the convention in 2000, he spoke about trade policy, making no mention of being gay or of gay rights. But that did not stop delegates from Texas, home of the nominee, Gov. George W. Bush, from removing their hats, bowing their heads and praying in a silent protest.
Rick Perry, the state’s lieutenant governor at the time, explained their actions by saying, “Guess any time is a good time for prayer.”Rick Perry, the state’s lieutenant governor at the time, explained their actions by saying, “Guess any time is a good time for prayer.”