Stuart Stevens: The Hidden Power Structure of Closeted Gay Men in the Republican Party. When I see the explosion of sexual orientation hate coming out of the Republican Party under the false pretense of it being limited to anti-trans hate, I can't help but think of the powerful role closeted gay men have played in the modern Republican Party. Below is the first of a series of pieces I'm writing reflecting on my experiences with what was widely known as the GOP's Pink Mafia.