Texas Republican party declares itself officially anti-LGBTQ+ with new platform
Texas senator Ted Cruz (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The Texas Republican party has declared itself officially anti-LGBTQ+ with its new 40-page platform, describing homosexuality as an “abnormal lifestyle choice”.
On Saturday (18 June), the party adopted the new platform of guiding principles, which also states that the Texas Republicans “oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity”.
As its formal position, the platform states: “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.”
The guidance continued: “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: a. Intervene in any way to prevent natural progression of puberty. b. Administer or provide opposite sex hormones. c. Perform any surgery on healthy body parts of the underage person.”
Texas Capitol building in Austin (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)
At the Texas Republican Party convention on Saturday, where the platform was launched, Senator Ted Cruz also railed against the “woke” agenda of a same-sex kiss in Disney’s latest film Lightyear.
According to an NPR reporter, anti-LGBTQ+ leaflets were also handed out at the event, entitled “be alert and aware of the homosexual agenda.”
The new guidance comes after months of doubling-down on transphobic legislation in Texas, after governor Greg Abbott’s directive that called on the state’s child protective services to investigate parents of kids receiving gender-affirming medical care for “child abuse”.
Kai Shappley, an 11-year-old trans girl, spoke out against the cruel legislation at a rally in March, saying: “If I could sit down with the governor, I would ask him to please stop.
“I would tell him you’re hurting us. Is that too much to ask? Just stop.
“Adults are supposed to protect kids, not hurt kids and their families… I’m afraid that I will be taken away from my mom.
“It’s been upsetting having to explain myself over and over again to adults for so many years. It’s just getting annoying. I’d rather spend my time just being a kid.”
