WTF is Wrong with Texas and the Republican Party?

Dear Daniel, Sign the petition to RNC Chairman Michael Steele: "Mr. Steele, I urge you to publicly reject the anti-LGBT language in the Texas GOP Platform." Sign now. What you are about to read is shocking but true. The 2010 Texas Republican Party Platform says gay people shouldn't have custody of children.1 It says issuing a marriage license or performing a marriage ceremony for a same-sex couple should be punishable by jail time.2 It wants to restore 19th-century Texas statutes outlawing sex between men.3 It's one thing for extremist groups to spout this type of bigotry. But one of the nation's two main political parties? That's taking it WAY too far. The Republican National Committee is trying to avoid the issue, but a huge public outcry can force them to take sides. Is this really what they want voters to think the GOP stands for as the 2010 elections approach? Sign our petition to RNC Chairman Michael Steele: "Chairman Steele, I urge you to publicly reject the anti-LGBT language in the Texas GOP Platform." At a time when Americans are looking for real solutions to the challenges we face, the Texas GOP decided to focus on propaganda, not policy: "Homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases." "Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable 'alternative' lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should 'family' be redefined to include homosexual 'couples.'" "We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married." They're not just against marriage equality; they're against basic equal rights. They think it should be 100% legal to fire someone for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Even their word choice shows a possible anti-transgender bias, using the phrases "natural man" and "natural woman." The list goes on – far beyond the usual Republican talking points on "traditional family values" and even the GOP platforms in other conservative states. And they don't stop with attacking LGBT citizens. They also call for evicting the United Nations from the U.S., requiring drivers' licenses to indicate citizenship, opposing legislation to allow stem cell research, rescinding no-fault divorce laws, reversing Roe v. Wade, and shutting down the U.S. Department of Education. I want to be clear: HRC is a bipartisan organization. We've endorsed Republican candidates for election. So this isn't about party politics – it's about deep intolerance that deserves to be rejected. Sign our petition to RNC Chairman Michael Steele – tell him to repudiate this outrageous platform. After you've signed, please spread the word to your friends – LGBT and straight, Republican and Democrat – and help us get the word out. Let's not allow the national Republican Party to hem and haw their way out of this one. Sincerely, Joe Solmonese President P.S. The full platform is available here (PDF). 1. "We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to...custody of children by homosexuals..." [sic] 2. "We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to perform a marriage ceremony for such." 3. "We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy. " This link is specific to you, so please take action on this campaign before you forward to your friends. Having trouble clicking on the links above? Simply copy and paste this URL into your browser's address bar to fill out and share the survey: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=885