Gay figures pull out of Biden fundraiser

Two prominent gay figures, activist David Mixner and widely read blogger Andy Towle, have pulled out of a Democratic National Committee fundraiser later this month amid growing calls to confront the administration at what was supposed to be its first large scale opportunity to bring in gay cash.

"I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions," Mixner wrote of a motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act that drew a parallel between same-sex marriage to incestuous marriage. "How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us. For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington! I am so tired of being told by Democratic operatives to 'suck it up' because so many other profound issues are at stake," Mixner wrote.

"I've had concerns about the lack of movement from the administration on LGBT issues for some time now but I wasn't comfortable attending after that DOMA brief came out," Towle, who writes the widely read Towle Road blog, said in an e-mail.

Prominent gay and lesbian bloggers are also pushing guests at the $1,000-a-plate dinner to turn up the heat on its hosts, out Reps. Barney Frank, Jared Polis, and Tammy Baldwin.

"Please politely contact our out LGBT representatives on the Hill to ask them why they still plan to hold the event in the wake of lack of leadership re: DADT repeal and the horrible DOMA brief and 2) do they see anything problematic about financially supporting a party that runs for cover when our issues come up on the Hill," wrote Pam Spaulding.

Americablog's John Aravosis writes:

Please call Barney, Tammy and Jared and politely ask them WTF? It's been 5 days and none of them have said anything about this travesty, let alone why they're hosting the inopportune fundraiser - literally asking you to give Obama and the Democrats your good money after they've abandoned us - no - knifed us. It's clear to me that the White House asked them not to say anything, perhaps promising something in return. And before anyone just assumes that Obama privately promised them to move forward on gay rights, the president could have just as easily promised them a new highway in their state or to do a fundraiser for their re-election, provided they shut up. Their silence is looking very bad.

The escalating tension sets the stage for an unusual conflict between the vice president and what has traditionally been a core Democratic group — and a wealthy one — at the posh Mandarin Oriental on June 25.