Gay Republicans Respond to Texas GOP Platform

The Dallas chapter of Log Cabin Republicans issued a statement on the recently adopted and virulently antigay platform of the Texas GOP.

The platform calls for gay sex to be criminalized and the performing of gay marriages to be made a felony, and refers to homosexuality as a practice that "tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases."

Rob Schlein, president of the Log Cabin Republicans Dallas chapter, issued a statement late Tuesday:

"Recent attention has been given to the Republican Party of Texas and what many consider are the antigay planks in its 2010 Platform. Although these planks are not new, the attention is. From the Dallas Voice to bloggers all over the nation, Republicans are being painted as antigay and intolerant.

"At the Texas Republican Party State Convention we warned our fellow delegates of the consequences of including extremist language in the party platform regarding gay and lesbian Texans. For years, Log Cabin Republicans (a group representing gay, lesbian and like minded Republicans) has submitted resolutions to remove the extremist language at the precinct and state senatorial convention levels. Emails were also sent to every member of the state platform committee imploring them to either remove the passages or reword them, and Log Cabin Republicans Dallas offered suggested substitute language. Those resolutions and emails were ignored by the Platform Committee at the state convention.

"Language such as, 'We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country's founders,' and language equating gay parents with child molesters and abusive parents is obviously not supported by the majority of Texans, rank and file Republicans or even people of faith. (continued)

"We are regularly contacted by activist Republicans and Republican groups expressing their concern about the appalling language included in this document. Many gay and lesbian business owners and professionals that are natural allies of the GOP sit on the sidelines at a time when we need their help more than ever. Young Republicans and young evangelicals are often embarrassed by the antiquated statements in the platform. Worse yet, a recent fundraising drive by a left-wing Washington, D.C., organization highlighted the language from the Texas Party Platform in a letter to its well-heeled contributors.

"The enemies of the Republican Party will do anything during this election to distract voters from the dangerous consequences of their explosive expansion of government and unsustainable deficits. Republican fiscal and pro-free enterprise policies can save our country. Now is not the time to be shooting ourselves in the foot simply to pacify passionate but wrongheaded elements of our own party.

"The party platform is controlled by a handful of party activists. We call on Republicans at all levels to publicly repudiate many of the extremist positions taken in the Texas Party Platform. It is time for Republican office holders to stop pointing fingers while claiming to have 'never read the state platform' and clearly state their agreement or disagreement with such foolish language.

"We are happy this language is receiving wide exposure since we are certain it cannot survive the light of scrutiny. That said, we also believe the stakes are too high and Log Cabin Republicans is committed to working toward Republican victory despite the language in the platform."