The Texas GOP held its biennial state convention in Houston over the weekend. It was the first in-person event since 2018 because of the Covid pandemic.
On Saturday, delegates adopted a new policy platform. The 40-page document includes a section on “Homosexuality and Gender Issues.”
This describes homosexuality as “an abnormal lifestyle choice”, before going on to say, “We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior … and we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.”
In relation to gender identity, it goes on to state, “We oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity”, vowing to campaign against any medical practitioner who acts to “Intervene in any way to prevent natural progression of puberty” or who offers gender-affirming hormones or surgery to those under 21 years of age.
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It further states, “We oppose the use of taxpayer funds for any type of medical gender dysphoria treatments or sex-change operations and/or treatments.”
It backs the right of counselors to offer so-called conversion therapy to “clients of any age with gender dysphoria or unwanted same-sex attraction.”
Conversion therapy is the discredited practice of attempting to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through psychotherapeutic means. It doesn’t work and usually does far more harm than good.
Related: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott being called a “monster” for latest attack on trans kids
Earlier this year, GOP Governor Ted Abbott ordered state officials to investigate any parents supporting their children to have gender-affirming care. Attorney General Ted Paxton went as far as calling such activities “child abuse.”
Among those to speak at the conference was Senator Ted Cruz. He used his speech on Saturday to speak out against “woke” politics, highlighting the new Pixar movie Lightyear. which includes a same-sex kiss.
“Like, just leave the kids alone,” Cruz said. “Consenting adults, you can do what you want to do, but this culture assault is driven by radical leftists who want to tear down America.”
Although the party’s opposition to LGBTQ rights is nothing new, its use of the phrase “abnormal lifestyle choice” has angered many.
We must see the labeling of homosexuality “an abnormal lifestyle choice” by the Texas GOP’s platform for what it is: neo-fascist dehumanization.
Fascists target vulnerable minority groups and seek to galvanize public hate against them. The Texas GOP is practicing fascism.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 19, 2022
Seems to me that choosing to live in Texas is an “abnormal lifestyle choice”
— Jeff Tracy (@JeffTracy13) June 19, 2022
Texas now in the the dark ages. The state’s Republican Party has officially declared homosexuality an “abnormal lifestyle choice”. They also oppose “all efforts to validate transgender identity”, and support “regenerative therapy” to eliminate same-sex attraction.
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 20, 2022
Being Republican is an abnormal lifestyle choice and is considered an abomination by the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Ya see? Anyone can make shit up while invoking the Christian faith.
— Patriotic Moose & Lamb (v.2) (@geno_kusa) June 19, 2022
The @GOP should immediately condemn this false claim by the Texas Republican Party that being gay is “an abnormal lifestyle choice.”
This is a drastically unpopular position, and it rejects the life experiences of millions of Americans.https://t.co/Cjt1pdpCHI
— Cyd Zeigler (@CydZeigler) June 19, 2022
You know what else is an “abnormal lifestyle choice”, accepting dead school children as a legitimate cost to have easy access to Automatic and Semi-Automatic firearms for anyone 18 years of age and over.
— J Hougen (@HougenJ) June 19, 2022
Not only did the Texas GOP blast homosexuality as “abnormal”, but it also again made clear it didn’t welcome gay people among its ranks. Not for the first time, it barred the gay GOP group, Log Cabin Republicans, from having a booth at the conference.
Related: Log Cabin Republicans shunned by their own party, can’t even get a booth at upcoming convention
The LCR was disappointed by the decision and called it “shameful”.
“Texas Republicans just saw on Tuesday night what happens when the party includes new faces and voices – a Democrat-held seat was flipped for the first time in nearly a hundred years by a conservative Mexican woman,” it said in a statement, referring to congressional seat win last week by Mayra Flores (R) in South Texas.
“It’s clear that inclusion wins, which makes the Texas Republican Party leadership’s decision to exclude the Texas Log Cabin Republicans from their convention not just narrow-minded, but politically short-sighted.
“President Trump, who historically expanded the GOP’s coalition, made clear that LGBT conservatives are welcome in the America First movement and the Republican Party. It’s shameful that the Texas GOP leadership is choosing to not follow his lead. The only way we will regain control of Congress is to expand the tent.”
When the @TexasGOP blocks Log Cabin from having a booth at their conference, @DonaldJTrumpJr swoops in to say what we’re all thinking. pic.twitter.com/Hh8bfttdbP
— Log Cabin Republicans (@LogCabinGOP) June 18, 2022
Besides throwing LGBTQ rights under the bus, the Texas GOP platform also states, “We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States.”
sfhairy
Well, I declare Ted Cruz an abnormal human potato.
monty clift
His is abnormal looking.
Heywood Jablowme
I wish “Gays4Trump” had something to say about this, but I guess he won’t! And he seems like the type who lives in Texas.
white-queer-african
@Heywood Jablowme, i so agree with your comment. Only error is that it calls itself Gays4Trump, should be Troll4Dumph!
Toofie
Gays4Trump will post on this thread in like a week after it’s down a few pages so he can blather on and not have to worry about responses.
Max
here’s what’s an abnormal lifestyle: Ted Cruz and his pals loving AR-15s more than children’s lives, lying about his daughter was the one that made him go to Cancun during a whiteout storm, and finally, talking out of his *ss constantly.
Polaro
We’re going backwards. I wonder why? Hmmm.
inbama
After all, we gay men are overprivileged cis members of the oppressor class, too.
Maybe we should just not identify as homosexuals, and our rights will be safe.
monty clift
Because fascists gonna fascist.
Chrisk
Is anyone actually surprised. They’ve always catered to hate, selfishness, and fascism. Now they’ve really crossed the Rubicon and embraced it as their religion.
Kangol2
If anyone had any doubt about how homophobic, transphobic, anti-LGBTQ, and truly hateful the GQP can be the Texas RepubliQan Party just let you know in clear, unambiguous language that they HATE gay people, trans people and queer people in general, and they are empowering the people who hate to do whatever they like to take away our hard-fought for equality and rights. Even the pathetic leader of the Texas Log Cabin RepubliQans had to call these monsters out. Let’s see if the right-wing lackeys who frequently pop up here will do so, and more importantly, if they are pushing back against this overt RepubliQan hate agenda!
jt1990
@Kangol2 Once again, I search hard and find nothing ‘hateful’ in a Queerty article. Just opposition to Liberal lunacy. While parts of it are somewhat subjective, it’s important to protect kids against “puberty blockers” and other transgender nonsense. Seems like only pedophiles would want to block puberty anyway. Modern Leftists have gone so far off the edge they make Right-wing “conspiracy theorists” look somewhat credible. Liberals would have a better shot at gaining office if they wouldn’t push such insanity. Maybe even without rigging an election!
PS I tried posting a link to NY Post article interviewing young folks who regret their sex change, and the damage it did to their bodies. It got “moderated” and is not showing, I believe that happens automatically when you post a link. Anyway, easy to find if you search for it.
Brian
Unsurprising. America is filled with idiots. Global surveys about evolution show that most countries have a higher percentage of people acknowledging that evolution is real. Evolution was proven hundreds of years ago, and Americans are really that far behind. Also consider all the snake oil that gets invented, promoted, and consumed here. Alex Jones got rich off of the advertisements for fake supplements and cures. Americans don’t understand biology, medicine, climate change…. so of course they think that people choose their own sexual orientation and that prayer will reverse it. Republicans’ brains don’t work.
Mattster
Voting for Abbot is “an abnormal lifestyle choice”.
Prax07
I’ve said the militant T agenda (Either agree with Everything we say or get out) was going to be really bad for the LGB, this here in Texas is the proof. Just what we don’t need, neo-nazis and good ol’ boys with rifles saying it’s ok to take us out.
LeBlevsez
Is your bigotry due to idiocy, or vice versa?
Kangol2
Do you really think it was the trans agenda by itself that led to this extremism? Did you not read their statements specifically about homosexuality? This is driven by Christian extremists who don’t give a damn if you are the best and most compliant, self-concealing gay person on earth. They do not like gay people and if they had their way, they would impose their version of apartheid on gay people, let alone the BTQIA members of our community. Long before trans issues were being discussed you had right-wing Christians like Anita Bryant pushing against gay equality and rights. Hell, same-sexual activity was published in the early British Colonial period in the US based on Biblically-informed views of behavior.
inbama
Prax07,
Just identify as a woman.
In California and Jersey, rapists, pedophiles and murderers do it all the time to get transferred to women’s prisons – no surgery or hormones needed.
If you change your identity to female, you can keep all your rights just like in Iran.
monty clift
You are thick as sh*t.
Mr. Stadnick
Log Cabin Republicans happy about donald trump jr’s endorsement, was Anita Bryant unavailable?
ZzBomb
conservatism is an abnormal lifestyle choice.
Fahd
I would expect this to lead to more homosexuals becoming gun owners to protect themselves against a potentially dangerous Texas state government. History teaches that this kind of language is just steps away from arrest, detention and perhaps worse at the hands of an out of control anti-gay “government”. Thank goodness the 2nd Amendment protects the right of homosexuals to arm themselves and protect themselves in the event that the Texas state government goes haywire.
LMG
Ted Cruz is like a 21st century Golem, made out of dog excrement with eyeballs of coal. Just looking at him you can smell the aroma exuding from his shaggy unkempt appearance and leering eyes as he continues in full “lying Ted” mode. He had to come to Texas from Canada to get as far away from the latter after his stench up there was no longer endurable for its population. What has he ever done for TX except for strolling and trolling hither and yon spreading his venom, spite, and total ignorance? He’s a HINO – “human in name only”.
Archie
Better add the Japanese to the list to h8. Their highest court just affirmed a ban on gay marriage.
radiooutmike
@inbama:
If you are a cis male, of course you have more privilege, even more if you are white cis male. The default assumption white males are straight.
jt1990:
Obtuse, much? So, some people, young legal adults can have misgivings about transitioning? Hmph.