The Texas Republican Party described homosexuality as an “abnormal lifestyle choice” in its latest platform, which was put forward and voted on by thousands of delegates at the party’s convention over the weekend in a sign that the party is coming together. is shifting further to the right.
“We believe that no special legal rights or the creation of a special status should be granted to homosexual behavior, regardless of the state of origin, and we oppose any criminal or civil sanctions against those who oppose homosexuality by faith, conviction or belief. in traditional beliefs. values,” the 40-page document said, which also said the state Republican Party “opposes[s] all efforts to validate transgender identity.”
Specifically, the document argued that medical professionals should not perform so-called “gender-affirming care” on transgender people 21 and younger.
The party’s platform also opposes the use of taxpayer funds to pay for sex change operations, as well as criminalizing the practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” “
The document also refers to gender identity disorder, or gender dysphoria, as “a genuine and extremely rare mental health condition” and insists that claiming there are more than two genders “does not just deny people with the condition proper mental health care, but also leads to physical harm.” and psychologically abusive ‘social transition’, as well as irreversible physical mutilation”.
A cutout of Donald Trump sits in the Patriot Mobile display at the Republican Party of Texas convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center.Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via AP
The Texas Republican Party went on to ask the state legislature to approve monetary awards for “people who have received ‘gender-affirming surgery’ as malpractice compensation.”
Other controversial parts of the platform include a resolution that “substantial election fraud” cost former President Donald Trump a second term and that “Interim President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not rightfully elected by the people of the United States.”
Another board warned that Texas has the right to secede from the US because “the federal government has affected our right to local self-government” and urged the legislature to set a referendum on the matter in the 2023 election.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was booed during his speech to the convention on Friday.CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
More than 5,100 delegates and alternates voted on the platform at the close of the convention. While ballots have yet to be counted and results certified, party spokesman James Wesolek told The Texas Tribune it’s rare for individual boards to be rejected.
Delegates also booed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) during his speech to the convention Friday night for his role in talks about new gun control legislation following last month’s mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas. Uvalde, Texas.
Earlier this month, lawmakers unveiled a framework for new gun control legislation that included making juvenile registries open to background checks for prospective firearms buyers under the age of 21. States would also be encouraged to adopt “red flag” laws to make it easier to pick up guns. of individuals who have been singled out for threatening statements or behavior.
Source: nypost.com