Press Release - August 20th, 2012

For Immediate Release

View Online: http://lgbtde.ms/NW1ipb

March 4, 2012
Contact: Jerame Davis
202-625-1382
jdavis@stonewalldemocrats.org 

GOP Platform Draft Dashes Hopes of Wistful Gay Republicans

A breaking report from Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner contains the draft language for the Republican Party's Platform Plank opposing the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples. The language, included below, was authored by the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and directly and forcefully contradicts the assertions of a gay Republican group today that the Republican Party Platform will contain an olive branch for LGBT Americans.

National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director, Jerame Davis, reacts:

"The GOP hasn't changed a bit. What has changed is the weak-kneed apologists at Log Cabin Republicans who used to have a conscience and who used to stand on principle by calling out the bigots in their Party. Now, instead of pressing for real and lasting change, they're willing to settle for vague and meaningless platitudes.

"Read the draft language and tell me the GOP is moderating on LGBT issues. Coming on the heels of Log Cabin Republicans' wistful proclamations of a more inclusive Republican Party platform, are they now going to try to convince us that this language is really a good thing because it's the longest passage ever about LGBT issues in a Republican Platform? Or is there some sort of secret pro-gay code hidden in those bigoted words that only true believers can suss out?

"The Republican establishment is not mincing words - they wanted everyone to know they're still the party for homophobes and hate mongers. By allowing Tony Perkins, the leader of a designated anti-gay hate group, to draft this heinous language, the GOP has sent a clear message to gay Republicans that their hope of a pro-equality Republican Party is nothing more than a pipe dream."

The Republican Party's Draft Platform Language Opposing the Freedom to Marry

Marriage and the Judiciary

A serious threat to our country's constitutional order, perhaps even more dangerous that presidential malfeasance, is an activist judiciary, in which some judges usurp the powers reserved to the other branches of government. A blatant example has been the court-ordered redefinition of marriage in several States. This is more than a matter of warring legal concepts and ideals. It is an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousand of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values.

Defense of Marriage

That is why congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the rights of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions. An activist judiciary usurps the power reserved to other branches of government and endangers the foundation of our country. We oppose the Administration's open defiance of this constitutional principle - in its handling of immigration cases, in federal personnel benefits, in allowing a same-sex marriage at a military base, and in refusing to defend DOMA in the courts - makes a mockery of the President's inaugural oath. We commend the United States House of Representatives and those State Attorneys General who have defended these laws when they have been attacked in the courts. We reaffirm our support for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of States which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other states to do so.

(Source: http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/exclusive-gop-platform-draft-strongly-defends-tr)

###

National Stonewall Democrats is the national voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Democrats, with more than 80 local affiliates across the nation. Stonewall Democrats works to elect more pro-equality Democrats regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - and to improve the Democratic Party on issues important to LGBT Democrats.