Remember how the Texas Republican Party’s 2012 platform drew national attention for its radical and bizarre political positions?
Well, if the Texas Eagle Forum has its way, the GOP state and county party committees would preserve their extremist stances and go even farther in embracing the far-right.
The group has unveiled its lists of proposed resolutions for party committees in hopes of shaping the state GOP’s 2014 platform, asking members to demand Congress impeach and remove judges who rule in favor of gay rights and urge the party to approve a resolution condemning homosexuality:
WHEREAS, the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit; and
WHEREAS, the practice of homosexuality is unhealthy and puts the American public at risk for disease; according to the CDC, homosexuals make up only 2% of the U.S. population, yet are the population most severely affected by HIV, especially young men 13-24 years of age; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that homosexuality should not be presented as an acceptable lifestyle in public policy, and the “family” should not be redefined to include same-sex “couples.”
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that 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.
The model resolution is almost exactly the same as the one found in the current Texas GOP platform [PDF], which reads:
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.
But the group, led by Cathie Adams, now wants the party to go one step further by endorsing the discredited practice of ex-gay therapy:
WHEREAS Reparative therapy and other Sexual Orientation Change Efforts are based on the understanding that healing emotional wounds and reducing shame will reduce same-sex attraction and empower individuals to live in accordance with their own faith and values;
WHEREAS, psychological and spiritual counseling have been well-documented in scientific and psychological literature to help individuals with unwanted same-sex attractions reduce and/or eliminate their unwanted homosexual feelings;
WHEREAS, laws have recently been passed in California and New Jersey severely restricting the free speech rights of licensed therapists who support counseling/therapy to change or reduce homosexual behavior in individuals who seek their help;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that licensed therapists, psychologists and counselors in the state of Texas cannot be forbidden or penalized by any licensing board for practicing reparative therapy and supporting clients of any age with sexual orientation change efforts.
Another proposed resolution warns that “religious liberty is under severe attack in our churches, schools, the military and the public arena by anti-religious organizations and the federal government,” calling on elected officials to reject “the ‘politically correct’ efforts by the Obama administration and anti-religious groups to intimidate, bully, and silence people of faith.”
Texas Eagle Forum’s recommended resolutions call for required drug testing for welfare recipients and sweeping opposition to gun safety laws while featuring warnings about the purported use of foreign laws in US courts, which are all resolutions that are part of the current Texas GOP platform.
The group also proposes a resolution asserting that there is “overwhelming scientific evidence” that humans have no influence on the climate and that “the earth has not warmed since 1998,” referring to climate change as a “non-existent theory of climate change [that] is a political agenda which attempts to control every aspect of our lives.” Similarly, Texas Republicans have a plank on “protections from extreme environmentalists.”
We strongly oppose all efforts of the extreme environmental groups that stymie legitimate business interests. We strongly oppose those efforts that attempt to use the environmental causes to purposefully disrupt and stop those interests within the oil and gas industry. We strongly support the immediate repeal of the Endangered Species Act. We strongly oppose the listing of the dune sage brush lizard either as a threatened or an endangered species. We believe the Environmental Protection Agency should be abolished.
