09/02/2008
Republican Party Platform: As Homophobic as Ever
Pam Spaulding dissected the Republican Party platform adopted the first night of the RNC. Among the nuggets:
— No sexual orientation mention in individual rights: "We consider discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin to be immoral, and we will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes."
— Position on the military: "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."
— Marriage: "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. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives...We also urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California. We also encourage states to review their marriage and divorce laws in order to strengthen marriage."
— Specific defense of the Boy Scouts: "We support the First Amendment right of freedom of association of the Boy Scouts of America and other service organizations whose values are under assault, and we call upon the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reverse its policy of blacklisting religious groups which decline to arrange adoptions by same-sex couples."
Pam also provides a list of platform committee members, if you're interested.
The RNC platform: sorry LCRs, the homophobia is alive and well [pam's house blend]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 2:00 PM EST by Andy in Election 2008, News, Republican Party | Permalink
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Thank you for posting this. It's easy to forget, as I often do (being a libertarian), just how wedded the GOP is to these contemptible, discriminatory policy planks.
Just another reminder how necessary it is to deliver a solid thrashing to the Republicans at the polls this November. Maybe then some of their members will reconsider their support for such institutionalized homophobia. I hope one day BOTH parties will put aside GLBT hatred, grant full equality and stop using us as a wedge issue.
Posted by: Daniel | Sep 2, 2008 2:19:53 PM
Luckily this isn't a one issue election. I suppose if your primary issue is about gay issues then this would be important.
Posted by: Las Vegas | Sep 2, 2008 2:20:21 PM
Oh really Las Vegas? I was under the assumption that America was a symbol of Equality? You know those pretty,but Obvious EMPTY words..LIBERTY & JUSTICE for ALL? WTF? It's 2008..and America STILL doesn't live up to what it espouses to the rest of the world..it's Blatant Hypocracy!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Sep 2, 2008 2:42:01 PM
hey Las Vegas ... are you an idiot?
Because of discharging of gay soldiers, our military is less effective, and is having to offer over $100K in enlisting perks just to replace discharged gay translators. That makes this about your misspent taxes and our soldiers' and country's security.
The "traditional" marriage plank affects the strength and stability of our local families and communities by denying marriage to committed couples. That makes this a local issue.
At any moment, approx. 800,000 (see US Dept of HHS) kids are waiting to be adopted; the millions of "pro-family" voters have forgotten about the kids, and EVERY TIME AN OTHERWISE FULLY QUALIFIED GAY COUPLE IS PREVENTED FROM ADOPTING, A CHILD IS KEPT IN INSTITUTIONAL OR FOSTER CARE AND IS DENIED A GOOD LOVING HOME .... that makes this about kids, and again, where your tax dollars are spent.
wake up dummy, this about a lot more than "gay issues"
Posted by: mike in manhattan | Sep 2, 2008 2:48:41 PM
So the GOP has declared open war on the gays.
BTW. LAS VEGAS's point is that there is more important things than gay rights and the GOP has chosen the wrong platform.
I'm hoping people will be more concerned with changing the way this country is headed (i.e.. the economy). than how other people live their lives. That is not to say gay rights is not important but I want make sure I still have a job. Because I certainly don't want to be homeless.
(How ironic I'm listening to Shiva - Freedom while I'm write this)
If McCain wins on this platform we'll have bigger problems than marriage and the military to deal with. It will be open season on the gays.
Posted by: K | Sep 2, 2008 3:11:46 PM
So the GOP has declared open war on the gays.
BTW. LAS VEGAS's point is that there is more important things than gay rights and the GOP has chosen the wrong platform.
I'm hoping people will be more concerned with changing the way this country is headed (i.e.. the economy). than how other people live their lives. That is not to say gay rights is not important but I want make sure I still have a job. Because I certainly don't want to be homeless.
(How ironic I'm listening to Shiva - Freedom while I'm write this)
If McCain wins on this platform we'll have bigger problems than marriage and the military to deal with. It will be open season on the gays.
Posted by: K | Sep 2, 2008 3:13:23 PM
OK, I have come to the end of my patience with the LCR. If McCain is elected, he has promised to appoint Supremes that will effectivly eleminate any chance we have of moveing forward towards equality for 20 to 30 years. As of today, I will no longer speak to any gay Republicans. They simply are not worthy of a moments time.
Posted by: Michael H | Sep 2, 2008 3:34:41 PM
And aren't we all SHOCKED SHOCKED that the Republican platform isn't gay-inclusive!
"Luckily this isn't a one issue election. I suppose if your primary issue is about gay issues then this would be important."
Actually, my human dignity is important to me, odd as that may seem to you, LV. But no, you're right, it's not a one-issue election. The Republicans are equally wrong on a wide range of issues.
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 2, 2008 4:15:19 PM
Have any Republicans or Christians ever read or understood the Declaration of Independence? Just replace "He" with George the Shrub (or burn that Bush).
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
...
HE has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyranny only. (hate discrimination against large portions of the tax paying populace)...
HE has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. (sending folk to Gitmo to avoid judicial review...
HE has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance. (homeland security)"
from
The Declaration of Independence.
We need a new American Revolution to restore the DOC and Bill of Rights and free ourselves from Republican and Christian fear had hate!
They only have respect for the rights of those who conform to their narrow minded ways.
Posted by: Arthur | Sep 2, 2008 4:25:03 PM
Yeah, voting for a candidate who thinks it's okay that you can lose your job because you're gay means very little. So, persons who believe this are obviously idiots who live in liberal states or cities where there are local protections from discrimination or those individuals have a ton of money.
I'm so tired of gay Rethugs brushing aside anti-discrimination legislation. What this shows is that for many of them, they view themselves as separate from the majority of gays. They pretend or are able to hid amongst the white heterosexual majority, enjoying the privilege they get.
Larry Craig and other gay big shots lived long, happy lives ruining or trying to ruin the lives of other gay people. Craig could enjoy the power of national office, get a little on the side, and squish the hopes and dreams of average gay people.
Yeah, Craig got caught. But how long did he live the good life? Isn't this kind of vile, hypocritical act the status quo for many gay Republicans? Regardless of whether they are in or out of the closet, they don't care about the sufferings of others.
Posted by: noah | Sep 2, 2008 5:22:52 PM
The Republican Party 2008 and the Nazi Party 1945 is different how?
Posted by: Chad | Sep 2, 2008 11:42:47 PM
Did any one see any diversity at the RNC? The last time I checked, America was made up of more than people with cowboy hats and cowboy boots (no offense to those people). Oh and btw GO GAYS!! I love my best friend and he is gay, gay, gay...he should be able to get married!!
Posted by: Mr. Jones | Sep 3, 2008 11:27:50 PM
To take the larger view of "our" future, the only way to combat this level of ignorance is to just be honest: religions are mythologies. Spread the word.
Posted by: alexander | Sep 7, 2008 4:53:04 PM