This story has been all over the blogosphere this weekend, after the Texas GOP released its 2010 platform, which was finalized during its state convention two weeks ago in Dallas. Among other things, the platform calls for again making sodomy a crime and for making it a felony to issue a same-sex marriage license. The anti-gay language in the platform has prompted headlines on some blogs comparing Texas to the African nation of Uganda, which sought to impose the death penalty for homosexuality.
But the story is hardly new. This anti-gay language has been in the Texas Republican Party platform for years, and it was unchanged during this year’s convention. We’ve reported extensively on Log Cabin Republicans’ efforts to get the anti-gay language removed, and two years ago, The Dallas Morning News even picked up the story.
So why is it all of a sudden such a big deal — and how could it possibly be news to anyone that the Texas GOP is anti-gay?
I really don’t know, but I suppose it’s a good sign that this type of anti-gay language seems newsworthy, because it signals that it’s becoming uncommonly hateful. I also think the sudden wave of attention could help motivate moderate Republicans to try to change the language, because it can only hurt Texas’ image.
On the other hand, I think this “story” is good example of the sheep mentality that exists among some bloggers. One posts something, and all of the others simply regurgitate it without doing any fact-checking or original reporting.
Yes, folks, the Republican Party of Texas and its platform are anti-gay. If this comes as a surprise to you, I don’t know where you’ve been.
8 Comments
If you think Texas is anti Gay … you need to check out Hawaii, where the LDS, Catholics, and Christian extremes are all fired up over stopping civil unions for Gays. They are pouring obscene amounts of money and time into this initiative. This is truly a sin, when churches should be using our tithing’s to help the starving, impoverished, and homeless in our nation and the world!
Recently, a letter was submitted by the Hawaii Business Round Table, made up of some of Hawaii’s most prominent business’ , Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Electric Company, Outrigger Hotels, etc… urging the Governor to veto HB444 giving Gay people a chance to share the same rights as their brothers and sisters via civil unions.
Yes, sadly, bigotry lives on .. not only in Texas, but also in the State of (Aloha?).
Steve Leong
Yes, that’s the Republican Party. The party of small government and personal responisibility. Unless, of course you’re an unchristian queer in which case we have the right to regulate and interfere in your personal life no matter how private or inconsequential to our own.
I bet you what happened is this: Rainbow Lounge raid + Rick Perry secession speech + Texas textbooks + DART + this story = Texas is becoming more conservative and more anti-gay, according to some bloggers.
The truth, in fact, is probably the opposite because the fact that these stories are news means that more people are finding this behavior unacceptable. Rick Perry is ahead of Bill White by only 8 points according to the last Rasmussen poll. THAT is the real story here.
I cannot wait to see how GOProud and Log Cabin Republicans are going to spin this.
Let this stand as an outline for how the Reps will lose Texas – Its a 25 page report of how they’re out of touch with true Texans.
Its a good read for all republican voters to see what they’re supporting when they vote for Reps. Look at Joe Barton – his comment was based on traditional Republican principles. Clearly defined by the party and can be found in the 2010 Texas Republican Platform, but out of touch with the reality we live in today.
WATER
They want to privatize water?!?!?! Access to clean, drinkable water should be a right, and not subject to market principles.
Why don’t you publish the names of the 900 log cabin Dallas Republicans who want Laura Bush in the Parade. I personally want to boycott their business’ .
It is so very obvious what the Republican politicians and right wing news are doing! Just saying over and over that President Obama and his administration has done nothing while in office. PURE LIE! All of a sudden Republican politicians are saying they can fix the country and they have the answer. BULL! These are the same idiot that mess up the country and made the United State of America look weak around the world. What the Republican Party and the right wing news is hoping to do is just LIE LIE LIE! They believe that most people that listen to them are either real real STUPID or real real RACIST. They also believe like Bill O’Reilly that most white American voters HEAR IT! BELIEVE IT! and REPEAT IT! Without investigating past the idiot or racist that gave them the news! Republicans like Sarah Palin a known quitter and pure idiot criticize the President for doing his job and not quitting! This idiot is a star republican that everybody knows is an IDIOT! Then it’s Republican Senator John McCain a pure liar and flip flopper! Then the king of Republicans….Republican President Ronald Reagan is a hero of the Republican Party a man that serve the country suffering from Alzheimer for the last 2 and a half year in officer. Republicans after Republicans have a proven record of being pure idiot! Republican have voted against the recovery of the country. Republicans have attack Hispanics , Muslims, Gays, Single Women some made single by the wars they started! Republican have attack the unemployed calling all unemployed lazy! A Republican apologize to BP for the government investigation of BP’s disaster! Former President G.W. Bush was the worst President in American history that had the worst Vice President in American history. Both will never answer for the horrible way the left the country! Nor do they CARE! President Obama and all Americans should continue to blame those two idiot for the condition of the country TODAY! They gave to the rich and the rich screwed the country. The Bush tax’s cuts for the rich allowed the rich to laid off cut benefits from people and pocket allot of profit and put much of their profit in oversea account! Today these people are sitting on trillion of dollars and just like Bush/Cheney and the republican party could give a damn about the country! All the Republican’s pundits that talk about the unemployment rates have two and three jobs….So maybe if they cared so much about the unemployed they will give up one of their jobs! YEAH RIGHT!
My recent Texas exsperience with a group of republicans is that these rep fit the sterio o type of selfish arrogant self centered naracisstic liars corrupt anti this and that. this large group degraded the poor the uneducated persons who did not look like them as in very white wealthy n hungry for power n control. this group was focused on their best interest the best interest of their friends n any money fraudently gotten or other. this is their interest. they have the typical rep notes as in no hand outs. substancial evidense exist.
san antonio in particular is crawling with corrupt rep in positions of power.
Im bryce vandergrift pelletier mom.
Marie_M009@live.com