The Texas Republican Party made headlines late last week with a couple of its platform planks and resolutions passed at state convention. One referred to Joe Biden as an illegitimate President. Another, which is now being heavily criticized by Richard Grenell, deals with homosexuality.
Here is what the Texas GOP approved:
“Homosexuality: 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.”
Grenell was the first openly homosexual person to serve at a Cabinet-level position after serving as President Donald J. Trump’s Acting Director of National Intelligence. Trump nominated Grennell as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany in September of 2017. Prior to that Grennell was a State Department spokesperson to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and a foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
Grenell tweeted out the following regarding the Texas Republican Party:
“Texas politicians must stand up to the intolerant leadership of the Texas State Republican Party. Silence is weakness. I don’t believe Republicans in Texas are intolerant. I know Donald Trump and Melania Trump welcome gays and lesbians to the Republican Party.”
Grenell is scheduled to speak at a couple of events this week in Iowa — the Westside Conservative Club breakfast on Wednesday as well as the Dallas County GOP on Thursday.
Iowa’s Republican Party platform isn’t much different.
Listed first under the “Liberty” section is a plank calling for the repeal of Civil Rights Code protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“We call for the repeal of sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class in the Iowa Civil Rights Code and reject any additional similar legislation to Local, State or National Code.”
It also expresses support for a “Conscience Clause” so no person, business or organization can be penalized for exercising their religious freedom by not providing services that violate their religious beliefs.
The Republican Party of Iowa platform also states it recognizes just two biological sexes — male (XY) and female (XX).
“Biological sex at birth shall determine one’s participation in or use of restrooms, locker rooms, sport teams or other such accommodations or institutions.”
Finally, it states that traditional, two-parent (one male/one female) marriage-based families are the “foundation” to a stable, enduring and healthy civilization.
“We encourage the repeal of any laws allowing any marriage that is not between one natural man and one natural woman.”
Grennell is speaking at the Dallas County event alongside Matt Whitaker. When Whitake ran for U.S. Senate in 2014, he said:
“I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. Throughout history it’s traditionally been up to the churches and to God to define that. I don’t have an omnibus solution. Certainly it’s affecting all sorts of parts of our country. Here in the state of Iowa we can’t even get our elected officials to do anything about it and that’s really frustrating. It’s affecting our military. There are chaplains in the military under a lot of pressure to go against their religious beliefs. But what can I do as one freshman Senator in the U.S. Senate? Give me the bills and I’ll vote for them, but the President has done significant damage all over the country. There will be an unbelievable, long-term negative impact he’s leaving.”
