We’ve been somewhat troubled by the online spread of a recent “news story” saying the Republican Party of Texas’ platform is, well, still anti-gay. But now that the story has appeared in both The Huffington Post and The New York Daily News, we’ve accepted the fact that we’re powerless to stop it. Which is not to say that we ever really wanted to stop it, but given that this language has been in the GOP platform for years, we don’t consider it any more of a story than saying that the national Democratic Party’s platform calls for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I mean, we know it may be hard to believe considering the inaction in Congress on ENDA, but that doesn’t make it news.
Anyhow, we just noticed that Rob Schlein, president of Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas, has posted a response to the story about the GOP platform on his Facebook page. Schlein’s group has fought, to no avail, to have the anti-gay language removed from the platform in recent years. Here’s what he said:
“This is an article that’s gaining a lot of traction on the internet. I have had a lot of requests asking about it. Although much is not really ‘new’ because it existed in prior platforms, it is being used again as a tool to damage Republican politicians. To my R friends: we need to reform this next time as Democrat activists are using it against us! To my D friends, these planks were put in place by a tiny minority of grassroots activists (among the religious right) and does NOT represent the overall views of the rank and file politician or voter who identifies themselves as Republican. Many politicians claim either to not having read the platform, or will bluntly say they disagree with these planks.”
99.44% of the TX GOP platform is rubbish. Not just the heinous parts referring to homosexuals as 3rd class citizens
As a fellow Republican, and as someone who personally attended the convention, I did not get the feeling of any anti-gay sentiment. Surely there are those in the Republican Party who don’t agree with gay marriage – fine. But the platform is not an accurate representation of what most Republicans believe. Rather, the platform is created by less than 50 people on a committee, and voted on by the general session very last, when nearly no one is left to debate the issues. Every year an effort to make Republican candidates sign the platform fails, and it’s because most Republicans, if not all of them, strongly disagree with at least some portion of the platform.
This article circulating the Internet is ridiculous because 1) it isn’t anything new, and 2) it is a FAR stretch to suggest that Republicans want to imprison anyone.
No doubt, I am ashamed that the Republican Party uses this language, whether most agree with it or not. The language is hurtful, mean-spirited, and bigoted. I don’t defend the language itself, and it is important to have folks in the Republican Party to fight for its removal.
But, the Republican Party did throw out Cathie Adams (former chair of the awful Eagle Forum) as its chairman, and elected a MUCH more inclusive chair, Steve Munisteri. That was the real business of the convention, and Republicans choose inclusiveness.
I submitted the video to The Voice, but apparently, it wasn’t worth posting, so I’ll do it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA8zn5dy8Wk
JW,
What concerns me most about the GOP platform is not so much that republicans are bigots – or even that it’s republican. More over, what is more shocking about this ‘news’ to me is that language like this even exists as an end to a political platform. The only proper purpose of a government is to protect man’s rights, which means: to protect him from physical violence. I suppose, for me, what’s most appalling about the GOP platform is that it blatantly ignores this basic function of what I understand government to be. I could care less about it being republican in nature.
Honestly, I’m not the most political savvy person. I don’t get my jollies off by keeping up with the most up-to-date anomalies of every political platform (and according to Rob Schlain, apparently neither are some politicians). I suppose as a tax paying adult it is my responsibility to know that this news is not new news; but I’m really not too embarrassed to admit I don’t. I leave that fun stuff to people who are savvier at collecting said details than I. I do, however, enjoy reading my Google reader filled with news outlets who have earned my trust as a reader. I like having some one else do all the research and gleam out important details and relay them to me in a cute, sassy, informative manner.
What I find most disturbing about this ‘news’ is that it’s the first I’m reading about it. I suppose I have no one but myself to blame for that – which I’m okay with – but now that I know… I can do something about it. I can inform my friends, my family, share it in social networking sites, and help teach others out there about it. I can help keep this bigoted crap fresh on the minds of activists, and challenge colleagues to explain why they relate to a hate-filled party stance. Perhaps, like me, they aren’t aware it exists either. New or not, it should be used against the Republican Party in every facet and in every form until it is changed. Period.
And I’m sure I don’t say it enough, but thank you for sharing!
@Justin: Honestly, I have not had a chance to look at your video yet. I’ll try to do it tomorrow. Thanks for sending it.
Hey John,
I have to heckle you a little bit. All in good fun, my friend 🙂
Justin
I’m sorry, I’m just not buying that this was put in the platform by a fringe group and that the vast majority of the Texas GOP disagrees with this. That’s because I know there is a ‘fringe group’ that’s trying to get this language removed and replaced with gay-inclusive language. It doesn’t work because the fringe group on the other side is clearly much larger and has the backing of a greater portion of the party at large.
Anyone who’s read more than a few pages of the platform can see that they DO in fact call for the re-criminalization of sodomy, which had the rather unfortunate effect of actually imprisoning people. So it is not, in fact, so much of a stretch to say that the GOP wishes to imprison a class of people when they are advocating the enforcement of laws which imprison a class of people. ‘We’re not doing it – the police are!’
John McClelland is right. The one thing I agreed with in the platform in the pages I read was their opposition to red light cameras. They really ought to have someone go through and proof read and highlight all contradictory remarks and then correct them.
I think the Log Cabin excuses are very lame. If it is such a small minority that puts these awful planks into the GOP platform then the majority could stop it– if they wanted. The fact is the extremists have too much power in the party and no one has the guts to take them on or loose their support. The GOP needs to be called out on this. They need to stop making excuses and make an effort to change the platform. The activists who wrote this platform are the ones voting in the primaries and ultimately calling the shots. These are the people the politicians are answering too. Until the Christian Taliban is kicked out of the Republican Party and this bigotry is out of the platform I plan on voting for anyone but a Republican.
DJ Anderson:
I agree with you, sir, that its unfair to pretend like the mainstream Republican is pro-gay. Hands down, the average Republican is against gay marriage. I admit that. But, I am confident that the mainstream Republican DOES NOT agree with the severe and hateful language in the platform, and its only a matter of time to these hateful folks die off and a new generation of Republicans, which is focused on economics and governance (i.e. valid debates) instead of senseless bigotry.
Having been to four conventions now, the way the platform is created is as follows: 1) A few crankpots meet two days before the convention, 2) they decide whatever the issue of the day is (in 2004 it was gay marriage, today its healthcare and immigration), 3) They put some really strong language into the platform report, 4) The proposals are printed and laid out on the chairs people will sit in, 5) the platform is the very very last thing of every convention, and nearly no one is there. By then everyone is so tired, it just is adopted as written and the convention is adjourned.
I realize that the Texas Republican Platform is WAY extreme and often mean-spirited. But, that is the reason why an effort to make Republican candidates sign it always fails, and its the reason that myself and Log Cabin needs to be there to be a voice of reason. A runaway train is no better without someone trying to put on the brakes.
Look, I realize that it seems very conflicted for someone to be a member of a party which writes down such mean things. But, those words really aren’t what I experience when I meet other Republicans and talk with them. I’ll admit that its hard to be a gay Republican. But, just because I’m gay doesn’t make me a Democrat, and I simply don’t agree with so many parts of the Democratic agenda.
I wish there was a place for gay men and woman who want government to stay our of our wallets, AND our bedrooms!
Having conservative beliefs is one thing, but my main problem with gay Republicans is that you are supporting a party and its candidates who view you as second class citizens. Log Cabin and similar groups may have the best of intentions, but by supporting such candidates hurt the LGBT community more than help. Plus, a party that preaches “limited government”, “freedom” and “liberty” has NO credibility on those fronts if it doesn’t support LGBT equality up to and including marriage.
Justin, the assertion that there is a group of moderate republicans that doesn’t agree with this slop does not change the fact that they are doing nothing to change the system which allows this hate to be set forth as party doctrine. This inactive and apathetic group does not make me feel better about your party.
In any case, the problem is not these crazies, but rather the Republican philosophy of maintaining privilege for those who have it. I have absolutely no pity for your sorrow as a gay republican as you are also spouting out this nonsense in terms of economics. These forms hegemony are related, whether they be social or economic in nature. If you support one, you support them all.
The platform seeks to reinforce heterosexual privilege by criminalizing sodomy and gay marriage. This isn’t just an attack on queers, though they are singled out, but also an endorsement of a particular idea of the ‘family’ which also marginalizes and demonizes non-traditional heterosexual family structures. Just as they attempt to regulate heterosexual privilege, they also seek to strengthen white supremacy through the dismantling of affirmative action (their words on the subject are rather inflammatory) and gender privilege through the abolition of family planning rights. This was only from the small part of the platform I read!
Economic privilege is what appeals to (mostly white male middle class) gays in the Republican party. It is the one argument that I hear ad nauseum from Republicans trying to explain their anomalous affiliation. Basically, you want your tax dollars to stop going to the poor people who didn’t work for them. There is enough to say on this subject to fill several volumes. Let’s just say that it is but another example of Republican insistence on the perpetuation of inequality and domination.
Until we can imagine and implement more equitable systems, the Republican party will stand for injustice and inequality in the name of freedom – but only for those deemed worthy – namely, heterosexual whites.
Please don’t misconstrue my comments as exempting Democrats from that charge. I am not registered with that party and disagree with many of their policies. However, the issue at hand here is the Republican platform.