Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) in Palm Springs sparked outrage over the weekend by labeling their latest rightwing get-together: “A Normal Gay Social.”
The far-right soiree — originally scheduled to go down at the popular Palm Springs, California watering hole, The Tropicale in April — promised “community, common sense” and of course, “cocktails.”
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He also threw in some ableism and misogyny.
The choice moniker was met with disdain online and a decision by Tropicale’s owner Tony DiLembo — longtime personal chef to Barbra Streisand — to kindly ask the Log Cabin Republicans to find another venue.
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“Unfortunately, many local social media posts have encouraged bad behavior towards our group and this location,” read a post on LCR’s Instagram not long after the “Normal Gay” announcement went live. “It is for the safety of all attending and for their staff. The decision to change locations was mutually agreed to.”
The descriptor “normal gay” was coined by then-vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance in an October interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, when he said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if me and Trump won, just, the normal gay guy vote, because they just wanted to be left the hell alone,” Vance said.
In an earlier post, LCR’s administrator claimed, “Due to overwhelming interest in our upcoming event… we will be announcing an updated location in Palm Springs in the next few days.”
“Overwhelming interest,” indeed. According to exit polls, 86% of LGBTQ+ Americans didn’t vote for Trump in November.
LCR’s post earned a total of 31 likes but sparked a spirited debate over the group’s use of Vance’s gay appellation.
“While I can see it being offensive to some… it feels nice to have someone validate us,” LCR wrote in its defense.
“A ‘normal gay’ American wants: A strong economy with good jobs and lower inflation; Safer neighborhoods where families and individuals can thrive; Secure borders that protect American workers and communities; Low taxes that allow people to keep more of what they earn; Quality schools that educate, not indoctrinate.
“In short, we love our country. And that sets us apart from the radical left, which insists that to be truly ‘LGBT,’ one must embrace Marxist economic policies, open borders, and lawless streets. No thanks.”
However, one critic of LCR’s event wrote, “Normal gays don’t generalize and demonize everyone who doesn’t belong to their party of choice. BTW, I’ve yet to meet anyone (mostly Democratic) that doesn’t want the above. What that tells me is you need to get out more and engage with those outside your party. Because to claim that non log cabin republicans are all a bunch of fringe extremists does you a huge disservice and accomplishes nothing but polarization. You do take me back to the 80’s when Republicans assumed I was a pedophile simply for who I love. That’s not normal (sorry to burst your bubble).”
A chorus of “normal gay ” rebuke followed.
One commenter wrote, “Therefore non-Republican Gays are ‘Abnormal’… unless they pretend to be something they’re not? How does that work? 