The Gay Sheriff

This one is mainly for laughs. So a conservative republican sheriff in Arizona who is currently running for a congressional seat, who was also co-chair of Mitt Romney's election team in the state, has been embroiled in a hot scandal. Apparently he was has "been in the closet" so to speak, having a relationship with a Mexican man and threatening to use his power to deport him. However, the Mexican ex boyfriend is apparently in the country legally. Of course in all this scandal there is a picture of the sheriff in only his underpants that he sent to his ex boyfriend. When will people learn not to send seductive pics and texts and emails while in a secret relationship? IE Eddie Long and Anthony Weiner. I do personally think the self taken pics in the bathroom mirror are hilarious. But I digress. The sheriff was forced to hold a news conference admitting that he was gay, stepping down as co-chair of Romney's campaign, but denying any wrongdoing to his former lover. He then made it clear that he still plans to run for congress.
This raises a bigger issue in my mind. Being gay and republican. An oxymoron? Granted I know there are many issues that makes one conservative and republican besides your stance on being gay, gay rights or gay marriage. These include taxes, illegal immigration, abortion, gun control, big government etc. But it seems odd that with so many on the right feeling that you can "pray the gay away", that its a promiscuous choice vs being born gay, that marriage is only between a man and a woman, that it would be hard for any openly gay person to sit across from a true conservative and feel welcome, accepted and their equal. Maybe that is why so many including the sheriff have kept their gay identity a secret.
Many have felt the same way about Blacks in the republican party. Since our history includes conservatives and republicans, especially in the south,  fighting to deny us civil rights. But a lot has changed since those times and many blacks, especially those that have reached a certain level of success, agree with the republicans stance on less taxes, traditional family values and tougher laws on illegal immigration.
As a successful black woman I can see both sides. However I am certain if any party stood up to say I wasn't allowed to be married because of my race or that I was somehow inferior based on that same race, I would have a very difficult time not only joining their party but representing them in congress.
Thoughts?