"As far as the term "lavender mafia" goes, I have only known it to be used and expressed among liberals when speaking of gay activists among the staffs of elected Democrats"
I used "Lavender Mafia" in the sense that it is commonly used to refer to the homosexual network active within the Roman Catholic clergy and episcopate.
Feel free to learn more here:
http://www.newoxfordreview.org/dossier.jsp?did=dossier-lavender-mafia
I am familiar with the term among Catholics and with "velvet mafia" among libs and Dims in public office; not, until now among conservatives and the GOP in general.