Excited by Trump, gay Republicans struggle with rest of GOP

CLEVELAND -- Pro-gay Republicans have held Donald Trump up as the most supportive nominee in GOP history, but at this week's Republican National Convention, their excitement is clashing with the stark realization their party still is pushing a very different message.

While Republicans seek to broaden their appeal ahead of November's election, the party adopted a platform that moves further away from gay rights with a new admonition of gay parenting, adding language that states children raised by a mother and father tend to be "physically and emotionally healthier."

Even as Trump declares himself a "friend of the gay community," the GOP platform maintains its opposition to gay marriage and to bathroom choice for transgender people.

Yet in a first for a GOP convention, an openly gay speaker acknowledged his sexuality Thursday from the podium -- and put fellow Republicans on the spot by saying he disagreed with parts of the platform.

Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, said only Trump was being honest about how "fake culture wars" distract from America's economic decline.

"I am proud to be gay," Thiel declared. "I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American."

He was greeted with wild cheers and extended applause as some delegations jumped to their feet, in a striking moment for a Republican gathering.

The closing-night moment aside, Trump's nominating convention featured awkward silences on the rare occasions when gay rights have come up. Connecticut State Rep. Cara Pavalock said that's a reflection of how much work the party needs to do on the issue.

"I joined the party not for what it is but for what I know it will be in the future," said Pavalock, a Trump supporter.

For those hoping Trump's nomination will help repair the perception Republicans are hostile to equality, there's another challenge: Mainstream gay rights groups are denouncing the New York billionaire, arguing tolerance for one minority group doesn't excuse prejudice toward others -- such as Hispanics and Muslims.

Trump, who has said he'd nominate Supreme Court justices who might overturn gay marriage, nonetheless has spoken effusively about his friendships with gay people while avoiding anti-gay rhetoric many other GOP candidates have embraced.

At the same time, Trump has rattled many voters with unflattering comments about women, while insisting Mexico sends rapists and criminals into the U.S.