If you haven’t been convinced that Texas Republicans do not welcome “the gays” in the state party, the latest “development” should really open your eyes.
Today, in the final stretch of the Texas GOP Convention at the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas Republicans have officially denounced homosexuality and transgender identity. A proposal to add anti-LGBTQ language to the Texas Republican Party platform has been upheld by delegates. Language that deems homosexuality as an “abnormal lifestyle choice” wasn’t in the state platform in 2018 or 2020, in which both years were part of Trump’s America.
Homosexuality: Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice. We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin, and we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values. No one should be granted special legal status based on their LGBTQ+ identification.
Gender Identity: We oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity. For the purpose of attempting to affirm a person age 21 or under if their perception is inconsistent with their biological sex, no medical practitioner or provider may engage in the following practices:
- Intervene in any way to prevent natural progression of puberty.
- Administer or provide opposite sex hormones.
- Perform any surgery on healthy body parts of the underage person.
No Taxpayer Funding for Sex Change: We oppose the use of taxpayer funds for any type of medical gender dysphoria treatments or sex change operations and/or treatments. This includes but is not limited to military personnel as well as inmates in federal, state, or local prisons or jails. Inmates must be housed according to their biological sex. No Federal, state, insurance, or probate monies may be allocated for their use of such treatment.
Counseling Methods: Therapists, psychologists, and counselors licensed with the State of Texas shall not be forbidden or penalized by any licensing board for practicing Regenerative Therapy or other counseling methods when counseling clients of any age with gender dysphoria or unwanted same-sex attraction.
But the enshrining of such language did not come without debate within the party. David Gebhart, a delegate that advocated for “softening” the language, stated, “We are the Republican Party of Texas, not the Westboro Baptist Church.” The crowd responded with either laughing or booing. Nate Criswell, another delegate within the party, advocated upholding the existing language if only to not cave to political correctness, stating, “People appreciate calling a spade a spade.” In the end, the extreme anti-LGBTQ language remained since a motion to amend the language on the party platform proposal fell short in a voice vote.
Of course, this is certainly not the first time the Texas Republicans have performed harmful acts against the LGBTQ community. In 2015, Texas Republicans successfully coalesced the socially conservative vote in Houston and defeated a non-discrimination ordinance, in a city election that had the highest turnout since 2003. Because of this, Houston is the largest city in the United States to lack an anti-discrimination law that protects those who are LGBTQ. Even some other Texas cities, such as Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, have such laws in the books.
With that said, the Texas GOP stance on homosexuality is extreme for many, even compared to:
Donald Trump Jr
Fox News
The Conservative Party of the United Kingdom under Boris Johnson
...and et cetera.
Never brush off GOP extremism.