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The Texas Republican Party was harshly criticized after it adopted a new platform calling homosexuality an "abnormal lifestyle choice" after 5,100 delegates and alternates voted on it Saturday, June 18.
The platform also affirms the opposition of Texas Republicans to “all efforts to validate transgender identity” and calls for a ban on gender-affirming medical care–including hormone therapy–for anyone under 21.
These talking points about transgender people also demonstrate Republicans will not repudiate the controversy that erupted earlier this year after Greg Abbott, the state's Republican governor, signed off on legislation that, though ultimately struck down by a federal judge, would have empowered the state to open child abuse investigations into families whose children receive gender affirming healthcare.
The platform was adopted during the Texas GOP's biennial convention in Houston, footage from which you can watch below.
The platform also comes at a time of widespread "groomer" hysteria among Republicans accusing LGBTQ+ people of building relationships, trust and emotional connections with children so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
To that end, Texas Republicans have made clear they oppose making members of the LGBTQ+ community a protected class and they do support conversion therapy.
Conversion therapy, often described as "promoting healthy sexuality" or "sexual reorientation efforts" in right-wing circles as the practice has come under further scrutiny, is defined as any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Numerous health and welfare organizations have spoken out against the practice. The American Psychological Association (APA) has affirmed "there is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation."
Other organizations, such as The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), The United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) and The World Health Organization (WHO) have also condemned conversion therapy, citing the wealth of scientific research studies discrediting the practice.
But Texas Republicans say efforts should be made among the LGBTQ+ community to eliminate “unwanted same-sex attraction" as they advocate for what they termed "Reintegrative Therapy."
The news horrified LGBTQ+ advocates and members of the wider community, who took to social media to criticize the platform for its blatant bigotry
\u201cLet's talk abnormal, shall we, Texas GOP? \n\nMy LGBTQ friends that I've had for as long as I can remember are intelligent, loyal, family-oriented, compassionate, generous, non-violent, and not a single one of them has felt the need to strap on a weapon to order a latte.\n\nGFY.\u201d— Shelby Kent-Stewart \u2122 (@Shelby Kent-Stewart \u2122) 1655765754
\u201cTodays GOP wants to send us back to the dark ages. Texas GOP: \n\n\ud83d\udea8Trump didn\u2019t lose, conspiracy theories 4 all!\n\ud83d\udea8No more LGBTQ+ rights\n\ud83d\udea8Humbug! Who needs voting rights?! \n\ud83d\udea8Guns for everyone, even murderers!\n\ud83d\udea8Forced pregnancies? Totally ok\n\nhttps://t.co/7NkmjxjUOo\u201d— Rahna Epting (@Rahna Epting) 1655747219
\u201cFascist party.\u201d— The Dude \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@The Dude \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1655596894
\u201cAre you listening, gay Republicans?\u201d— James L. Greenlee (@James L. Greenlee) 1655745058
\u201c"Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice." \u2014 Texas GOP \n\nLGBTQ conservatives: When are you going to accept you are voting to put yourself in a concentration camp? Because that is where this is heading.\n\nhttps://t.co/RHwpU6QxFe\u201d— Matthew Rettenmund (@Matthew Rettenmund) 1655820437
\u201cThe Texas GOP has hurt the LGBTQ+ community. Between persecuting & trying to separate the families of trans children, limiting access to sports for trans youth, & spreading hate, the LGBTQ+ community has been put through hell. \n\nTerrorizing the LGBTQ+ community ends when I'm AG.\u201d— Rochelle Garza (@Rochelle Garza) 1655328120
\u201cThe Texas GOP declared Biden isn't the President, banned any LGBTQ from participating in their events, said the LGBTQ shouldn't exist & last, but not least, voted to abolish the voting rights act.\n\nBut they're not racist & homophobic fascists? \ud83e\udd14\n\n#DemVoice1 #BlueVoices #TruBlue\u201d— The Jewish Ginger Resister (@The Jewish Ginger Resister) 1655755415
\u201cTexas GOP at their convention voted to declare Pres Biden did not "legitimately" win election, demonized the LGBTQ community & urged public schools to teach an anti-abortion curriculum. The GOP is openly rejecting democracy in exchange for theocracy-My CNN https://t.co/dg3vciwf1w\u201d— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1655728471
\u201cIf people of color aren\u2019t paying attention, the fact that the GOP refused to let Log Cabin republicans (who support LGBTQ rights) participate in the Texas GOP convention should give you plenty of reason to start.\u201d— Y\u2019all hurry up\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Y\u2019all hurry up\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1655643074
The platform is especially controversial for its other provisions, which include a pledge for students in Texas to “learn about the humanity of the preborn child” by witnessing a live ultrasound and the use of fetal baby models.
And while largely unsurprising, Texas Republicans have thrown their support behind former President Donald Trump's falsehoods about the integrity of the 2020 general election, stating that “substantial election fraud in key metropolitan areas significantly affected the results in five key states in favor of … [Democratic President Joe] Biden.”
Republicans stressed that they do not accept “the certified results of the 2020 presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States.”
They've called on registered Republicans to vote in November's midterm elections, encouraging them to “bring your friends and family, volunteer for your local Republicans and overwhelm any possible fraud."