GOP's Platform Snubs Gay Rights

While the Republican Party's 2008 platform has diminished in size compared to its 2004 plan, the party has made sure to include measures to prevent gay and lesbian couples from gaining marriage equality. The 2004 document was more than double the size of this year's, which is about 20,000 words, and mentions presidential nominee Sen. John McCain only in the preamble, according to National Public Radio. A stark comparison to the last platform, which mentioned incumbent president candidate George Bush on nearly every page. The 120 platform delegates went after same-sex marriage, the military's ban on openly gay service members, and judges that rule in favor of LGBT rights.

"Because our children's future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it," the final draft of the platform says. The party also touts the Defense of Marriage Act, passed by a Republican Congress in 1996, affirming the right of states to deny marriage to same-sex couples. The platform also urges Massachusetts to reverse its policy of requiring religious organizations to provide adoption services to gay and lesbian couples.

McCain has said that he believes marriage is a union between a man and a woman but would let states decide on whether to allow marriage.

Activist judges who ignore the Constitution and inject personal opinions into their rulings must be stopped, the platform says.

The party also mentioned the military's ban on openly gay service members. "To protect our servicemen and women, and ensure that America's Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service," the platform says. In a letter to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund in 2007, McCain said that including openly gay military personnel would pose an "intolerable risk to morale, cohesion, and discipline."

While the party accepts federal policies already in place to ban discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin, there was no mention of protections for sexual orientation or gender identity.

While the platform did mention ongoing support for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, the focus would remain on treatment in Africa and other parts of the world. Prior to the release of the platform, the party's LGBT contingent, the Log Cabin Republicans, called for an effort to fight HIV in the states.

"It is inexcusable for the U.S. not to have a national plan to address this ongoing crisis," said Log Cabin Republicans president Patrick Sammon said in a July 30 statement. "The U.S. won't give [the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] money to any country without a National Strategy for combating HIV/AIDS, yet we don't have a plan in our country. That's not right."

The platform will go before the full Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday. (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: John Baker
Date posted: 2008-08-29 8:00 PM
Hometown: Philadelphia

Comment:

Wow! the US Constitution gave us freedoms. But its only for a select group per the Republicans. I must say this: after being a religious in the RC Chruch. Why do these so call, Christians always relfect from the "Old Testment" in the bible. The "New Testment" takes out the Old and brings in the New. If they practice what they preach; then they should be saying: Love your neighor. Not "hate" us. Jesus or God will not send me to hell for loving somebody: Hello! after 21 years living with my partner in love; I am going to hell. Well honey, life is hell at times thanks to the Republicans. I just hope the after life is better. Give us back our America Obama. AMEN

Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 2008-08-29 11:34 AM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:

I believe the word is...'DUH'!!!! If this doesn't wake up the Log Cabin Republicans, nothing ever will. The Republican party is anathama to LGBT rights and always will be. They have codified their opposition to, and hatred of, us in their party's platform. EVERY LGBT person must vote Democrat in November. While the Democrats aren't perfect themselves; they're a hell of a lot better than the Republicans. Anyone who votes for McCain is voting to keep the LGBT community in the closet; remove what few equal rights we now have, and make certain we don't get any more. 'Don't Ask; Don't Tell' will remain in affect as will DOMA. Conservative Supreme Court justices will outlaw abortion and give billions of our tax dollars to 'Faith-based' organizations. WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN!!!!!

Name: Jan
Date posted: 2008-08-29 9:29 AM
Hometown: MN

Comment:

Here is another tidbit. I live in Minnesota where as you know the Rep. convention is going to be held next week. Well, last night on the news they presented a story about the GOP having ordered 10's of thousands of tour books for Minnesota, like a "Best of Minnesota" type book for the delegates and visitors that they expect to come to the convention. The book is almost 250 pages, 20 of which reference what is available for LGBT people in the state. Well, when the GOP found out about it they called the publisher and canceled the order because of the LGBT inclusion. I don't want them to get elected. I can't believe that such open intolerance of other who are not like themselves. They are all hypocrites. Minnesota has a large gay community and is proud of it.

Name: Vic A
Date posted: 2008-08-29 1:47 AM
Hometown: Torrance, CA

Comment:

It REALLY boggles my mind when I think of these "gay republicans". I used to be a republican, but that was before I was very politically savvy. I agreed with them on things like "strong on defense", "tough on crime" etc......but I did not know what an INTRINSICALLY EVIL party it was until around 2003!! (I basically assumed that they did not have a position on gay issues - for or against). However, when their HATE and BIGOTRY came to light, I was SHOCKED BEYOND BELIEF. Not only was I shocked that this was effectively a policy of a major political party in the U.S., but that this sort of BLATANT "OFFICIAL DISCRIMINATION" was even possible in the U.S. (the supposed "beacon" of liberty, justice and EQUALITY). That was when I made a 180. From then on, I became a PROUD DEMOCRAT!!....I simply can't imagine people who are so shameless and filled with self-hate, that would actually support the Republican party. Simply ASTOUNDING and AMAZING!!!

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