Texas Republicans Want To Deny Civil Rights To People Who Are Gay And They Are Okay With Hate Crimes

I almost did not post about this part of the 2012 Texas Republican Party Platform because, frankly, their platform has included this sort of thing as far back as I can remember - their bigoted ways are hardly news.

It is Independence Day, though, and this kind of targeted effort to deny civil rights to American citizens should not go unmentioned.  Freedom is for everyone.

From the 2012 Texas Republican Party Platform:

" We affirm that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. 

Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle, in public policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally, we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction or belief in traditional values."

Perhaps that last part is meant to go with what they have to say in another part of the 2012 Republican Party Platform about hate crimes:

"We deplore all discrimination.* We also deplore forced sensitivity training and urge repeal of any mandate requiring it. We urge immediate repeal of the Hate Crimes Law. Until the Hate Crimes Law is totally repealed, we urge the Legislature to immediately remove the education curriculum mandate and the sexual orientation category in said Law."

And, of course, there is the part in the 2012 Texas Republican Party Platform (not trying to be all meta; I just want everything properly cited) about how they feel about gay marriage, an argument that always, always reminds me of the Klan:

"We support the definition of marriage as a God-ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural man and a natural woman, which is the foundational unit of a healthy society, and we oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists. We call on the President and Congress to take immediate action to defend the sanctity of marriage. We are resolute that Congress exercise authority under the United States Constitution, and pass legislation withholding jurisdiction from the Federal Courts in cases involving family law, especially any changes in the definition of marriage. We further call on Congress to pass and the state legislatures to ratify a marriage amendment declaring that marriage in the United States shall consist of and be recognized only as the union of a natural man and a natural woman. Neither the United States nor any state shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse. We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married. We advocate the repeal of laws that place an unfair tax burden on families. We call upon Congress to completely remove the marriage penalty in the tax code, whereby a married couple receives a smaller standard deduction than their unmarried counterparts living together. The primary family unit consists of those related by blood, heterosexual marriage, or adoption. The family is responsible for its own welfare, education, moral training, conduct, and property."

They mean, I guess, that the family is responsible for moral training and conduct unless the family thinks that gay people should be treated like everyone else, and then they think that the government needs to restrict your family's  choices in highly personal ways (Oh, also women - you can't have women making their own moral and conduct choices - more on that later). 

It is so hard to think about how many Americans still think this kind of discrimination is okay.  I am grateful that our younger generations coming up seem much less bigoted.  I don't think it is fair that people who are gay should have to wait until another generation or two down the line are grown before they get full civil rights under the law, though.  America can do better - we are supposed to be the land of the free.

* Funny way of showing it.