US: Texas Republicans approve ‘gay cure’ therapy endorsement
The Texas Republican party has adopted a state platform endorsing the use of therapy to ‘cure’ homosexuality.
The platform, first introduced as a draft last week, was approved by the state party conference yesterday.
The version passed reads: “We recognize the legitimacy and value of counselling which offers reparative therapy and treatment to patients who are seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle.
“No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.”
Its rhetoric had been softened very slightly from the draft, which claimed the therapy helped people “escape from the homosexual lifestyle”.
A discussion on the convention floor was avoided entirely, as the party moved to approve the entire state platform in full, without discussion.
Rudy Oeftering, of the Metroplex Republicans lobbying group, said: “There’s a very, very small group of people who want to keep the party in the past. We were here today to try to pull the party into the future.
“The only way the party can go into the future is to start listening to young people, to start listening to people who have gay family members.”
The ‘gay cure’ provision was inserted by tea party activist Cathie Adams, who claims she was just trying to ‘help’ gay people, adding that she had met an ex-gay activist.
She said: “He knows what he’s talking about. He is one of those who has benefited.
“I think the majority of Texans feel that way too. It’s not like this is mandatory. This is only a voluntary program.”
