Tea party activists joined with a Republican organization representing gays Monday to urge GOP leaders in the House and Senate to focus on fiscal policy and avoid divisive social issues.

In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), a dozen state tea party leaders joined with GOProud to call for Republicans to keep their focus on the economy.

Although McConnell and Senate Republicans have largely avoided social issues, Boehner earlier this year released the House GOP’s “Pledge to America,” which hints at some key conservative talismans. For instance, the pledge website says, “We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values.”

But the GOProud coalition warned in its letter, “This election was not a mandate for the Republican Party, nor was it a mandate to act on any social issue, nor should it be interpreted as a political blank check.

“Already, there are Washington insiders and special interest groups that hope to co-opt the Tea Party’s message and use it to push their own agenda — particularly as it relates to social issues. We are disappointed but not surprised by this development.”

“We urge you to stay focused on the issues that got you and your colleagues elected and to resist the urge to run down any social issue rabbit holes in order to appease the special interests,” the coalition added.

Tea party signatories to the letter include Tea Party Patriot leaders from Maine, Idaho, Ohio, Nebraska, Arizona and Montana, as well as other tea party leaders and conservative commentators.