Ann Coulter tries to nudge gay conservatives away from the marriage issue: "It's not a civil right; you're not black"

NEW YORK, N.Y. — They’re here. They’re queer. And they want a lower capital gains tax.

GOProud, a Washington-based group that dubs itself as “the only national organization of gay conservatives and their allies,” hosted its first national gathering Saturday night in Manhattan, which included a guest appearance from Ann Coulter, a high-profile member of a growing chorus of conservatives who are beginning to welcome gays into the conservative movement.

The group represents a sliver of the gay community who agree with conservatives on many policy issues and say they are tired of the Democratic Party assuming it has a monopoly on their support. They believe in free markets, limited government and low taxes, but just happen to be attracted to the same sex

They know that they don’t fit comfortably into any traditional label: Some social conservatives are apprehensive to accept them because of their socially liberal views on gay marriage, and there are pockets of the left that abhor them for even entertaining the thought of supporting Republicans.

To help bridge the gap between social conservatives and gays who want to play a role in the conservative movement, enter Ann Coulter. (Stage right, of course.)

In a speech to about 150 GOProud supporters who gathered at the home of billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel in New York City, Coulter acknowledged that gays could play an important role in the conservative movement, but was clear about her continued opposition to gay marriage.

“I thought I’d try to talk you out of gay marriage,” Coulter said. “I will warn you that I have never failed to talk gays out of gay marriage.”

While the crowd seemed thrilled to hear the best-selling author roll off a string of classic Coulter one-liners that left many of them in stitches –“It’s hard to believe this now, but when Obama was running for president he presented himself as a moderate Democrat. To be fair, in Kenya he is a moderate.” — her speech against gay marriage failed to find many converts, if any.