HRC - Proposed GOP Platform Dramatically Out-of-Step with Mainstream American Values

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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2012

Proposed GOP Platform Dramatically Out-of-Stepwith Mainstream American Values
Republican Party appears poised to codifyextremist values in 2012 platform
Washington–Despite the fact that a majority of Americans - including increasing numberswithin the GOP – support marriage equality, reportsindicate that the Republican 2012 platform will not only reject marriageequality, but will push for a federal constitutional amendment banning committedgay and lesbian couples from marrying and stripping rights from legally marriedsame-sex couples; call for a vigorous defense of the discriminatory Defense ofMarriage Act (DOMA); and continue to imply that, by their very nature, LGBTfamilies are somehow less worthy of the same dignity and respect as otherAmerican families.

“The GOP’s proposed platform is blatantly out-of-step with not only themajority of our nation, but even with the rank and file of the Republican Partyitself,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The party is poised to send adevastating message to LGBT youth – that they and the families they aspire toone day build are not worthy of the same protections as everyone else.”

Recent polling consistently indicates that a majority of Americans supportmarriage equality. Nationally, a recent CNN/ORC International poll shows54 percent of Americans support marriage equality. And nearly half of allRepublicans under the age of 35 support marriage equality, accordingto a May NBC News/WSJ poll.

"The draft language extols the virtues of marriage which makes it all themore counterintuitive that it also calls for excluding an entire group ofAmericans from the institution," said Griffin.  "Their call forrespect and dignity for all Americans should be matched with a commitment tomaking all families strong."

The platform language appears to bear more resemblance to the NationalOrganization for Marriage’s “marriage vow” than it does to the values held bymainstream Americans. Like the GOP platform, that vow – which Mitt Romneysigned – requires candidates pursue a federal marriage amendment and vigorouslydefend DOMA. It also calls on candidates to appoint only anti-LGBT judges,reject marriage equality in the nation’s capital, and set up a McCarthy-likecommission to investigate the activities of equality supporters.

“This platform language certainly doesn't represent the whole of the GOP, whichis continuing to add equality supporters to its ranks,” added Griffin. “AsAmericans and young Republicans increasingly embrace equality, politiciansseeking to harm our community will not even be considered serious contenders atthe national level.”
TheHuman Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working toachieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring andengaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizensand realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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