Republican committee approves ‘conversion therapy’ for convention
The Republican Party look set to move further to the right, with ‘conversion therapy’ and pornography provisions being approved.
As GOP delegates are set to gather in Ohio next week, the party’s platform committee voted to approve a number of issues yesterday.
Among the provisions to receive initial approval was an amendment put forward by the Family Research Council. It seeks to have the Republicans endorse ‘conversion therapy’ for children who identify as LGBT.
Tony Perkins from the Council, who drafted the amendment, said: “We support the right of parents to determine the proper treatment or therapy, for their minor children.”
It passed both the subcommittee and committee and included a call for a parental consent requirement for minors to cross state lines for an abortion.
In other news:
- Canadian church reject same-sex marriage by a single vote
- Homophobic flyers warn against gay ‘death curse’ and rape in public bathrooms
- Caitlyn Jenner to speak at LGBT event during Republican National Convention
The committee has also called on the GOP to view internet pornography as a “public health crisis”.
The amendment that was adopted stated: “Pornography, with his harmful effects, especially on children, has become a public health crisis that is destroying the life of millions. We encourage states to continue to fight this public menace and pledge our commitment to children’s safety and wellbeing.”
Language on same-sex marriage was also toughened by the committee, with the initial draft calling on a reversal of the Supreme Court’s decision and for control of marriage to be returned to the states.
Rachel Hoff, an openly gay member of the committee, tried to soften the sentiment through an amendment, but this was rejected on a margin of around three to one.
The committee has also supported North Carolina in it’s transgender bathrooms battle and called on all states to require people to use the restroom that matches their birth gender and not how they identify.
One more vote of the full committee is required on all issues before they are presented to delegates. This is will include one man and one women from each of the states’ delegations and final results are expected to be released today (Tuesday, July 12).
