“I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment, but I just wish none of this had happened,” said CPAC board member Cleta Mitchell. “I hope we can have a good CPAC this year and resolve this so that we can bring everyone back into the fold next year.”

Other social-issues groups opting to avoid the conference include the Heritage Foundation, the Family Research Council, the Center for Military Readiness, the American Family Association, the American Principles Project, the Liberty Counsel and the National Organization for Marriage.

“Obviously, those are important groups and need to be part of CPAC in the future,” said board member Al Cardenas. “It’s regretful having great groups pull out. We’ve got to make sure we have the right steps in place so we can have everyone there next year.”

Conservative online media mogul Andrew Breitbart is supporting GOProud’s foray into CPAC.

“Oh, by the way. Gonna have a party welcoming Gay conservatives to CPAC. Deal with it,” he said on his Twitter account last week.