Texas Does it Again

[gypski]

I guess Texas is the only state moving backwards instead of forward. First its textbooks and now its back against the gays. A whole other country is right.

TX GOP platform: Re-criminalize sodomy, make gay marriage a felony

By Stephen C. Webster
Monday, June 21st, 2010 -- 10:38 pm


TX GOP platform: Re criminalize sodomy, make gay marriage a felonyTexas Republicans are a conservative lot. Still, it's difficult to imagine mainstream GOP voters demanding their neighbors be jailed for engaging in a little hanky-panky behind closed doors.

Nevertheless, the state's Republican party has voted on a platform [PDF link] by which their candidates will stand, and it includes the reinstatement of laws banning sodomy: otherwise known as oral and anal sex.

The party's platform also seeks to make gay marriage a felony offense, which may be confusing to most given that the state does not sanction or recognize same sex marriages, meaning any such ceremony conducted does not bear the weight of law. Whether this means the GOP wants gay couples married in other states to be pursued through Texas as dangerous criminals, the party did not specify.

"We oppose the legalization of sodomy," the platform states. "We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy."

Texas first passed an anti-sodomy law in 1860, setting the penalty at 5-15 years in jail. The ban was finally overturned in 2003 by the landmark Supreme Court decision Lawrence et al. v. Texas. The court found that two men arrested in their own home by Houston police, who charged them with engaging in sodomy, were not committing a crime. Indeed, the court said the men were "free as adults to engage in private conduct in the exercise of their liberty..."
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To the contrary, the Texas GOP platform goes even further in attacking homosexuals, adding:

We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our countryâ??s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable â??alternativeâ?� lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should â??familyâ?� be redefined to include homosexual â??couples.â?� We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.

In addition to this, the Texas GOP seeks to end the state's lottery, which provides millions in funding to public education; restrict citizenship to children born in the United States whose parents are citizens; end federal sponsorship of pre-kindergarten schools; impose a jail sentence on any illegal immigrant in the state; shut down all day-labor centers; cut off all bilingual education after a student's fourth year in a U.S. public school; legalize corporal punishment in public schools; mandate that evolution and global warming be "taught as challengeable scientific theory"; and demand that Congress evict the United Nations from U.S. soil and end American membership in the global body.

In spite of this, Texas Governor Rick Perry went out of his way to extol the virtues of Mexican-Americans and at one point even filled his convention stage with dozens of minorities, essentially using them as props to promote Republican tolerance.

"None of that stopped the convention from adopting a platform full of messages guaranteed to turn off big segments of the Latino vote," News 8 Austin noted. "Meanwhile, the shrillest of anti-illegal immigrant messages could be found in the vendor booths next door. One popular booth proudly displayed pictures of terrified Mexican women and children apparently rounded up, trying to enter the country illegally."

"Hispanics will make up 78 percent of Texas' population growth over the next 30 years, compared with only 4 percent for whites, according to demographic projections," The Houston Chronicle reported in a story examining the GOP's platform. "Minority children already make up 66 percent of the state's 4.8 million public school enrollment â?? and Hispanics could surpass whites in the state's overall population by 2015, estimates show.

"Not one of the state's 181 legislators is a Hispanic Republican.""

cut and pasted from Raw Story. :rasta:

GOP Platform link: http://static.texastribune.org/media...Y_PLATFORM.pdf

gypski Reviewed by gypski on 06-22-2010. Texas Does it Again I guess Texas is the only state moving backwards instead of forward. First its textbooks and now its back against the gays. A whole other country is right. :D TX GOP platform: Re-criminalize sodomy, make gay marriage a felony By Stephen C. Webster Monday, June 21st, 2010 -- 10:38 pm TX GOP platform: Re criminalize sodomy, make gay marriage a felonyTexas Republicans are a conservative lot. Still, it's difficult to imagine mainstream GOP voters demanding their neighbors be jailed Rating: 5

[Islandborn]

Should be a cool race to watch.......Bill White's kindof a dope and has some shady dealings with buisness's he profitted from while Mayor of Houston that he didnt disclose. Perry is ur typical imitation religous righty.......to bad Ron Paul wont run for Govenor here. Both candidates suck but when it comes to it, me and the wifey as of now will vote for DEMOCRAT Bill White. Shocka to all you lefties Im sure. But like in Massachusetts, Democrats in Texas aren't like Democrats in NY OR CA. Doubt White will win though......he's got some clean up to do and is getting ripped in the local media here.

Thats why I can't vote and havent voted for the GOP in my life, my best friend in life is Gay and I want him and his husband to adopt children.....they get mine if both of us should die. They are an amazing couple of GREAT men. My apologies for the moronic Texas GOP to all the homosexuals out there in the world.....we got Houston an openly gay mayor and wont let a bunch of old geezers living in 1930 take that away. Never.

[moody420]

With all the problems going on in our country....Texas is worried about who is blowing who? really? Who gives a shit? Do they really think banning "gay sex" is going to solve the problems of america? I'm so tired of hearing the argument that gays are "demoralizing" the sanctity of marriage! Straight people have been screwing up marriage for centuries!!! If gays want to get married....shit, let them be miserable too!

HALF of all marriages end in divorce!!! HALF!!! It's not what it used to be, because we as a society are different. "Forever" is simply a suggestion now, not necessarily a vow. No matter how they want to spin that, you can't blame the gays! When will these old fuddy duddy's let it go!

[jtsik330]

Really though you could be straight and still commit sodomy. Blowjobs are sodomy as well.

[moody420]

Really though you could be straight and still commit sodomy. Blowjobs are sodomy as well.

good point!!! Does Texas really think they are going to do away with blowjobs??? Good Luck with that! :thumbsup: Who the hell can even regulate a law like that?

I mean, seriously, sex is the only free thing left in this country! If people are being safe and protecting themselves, then who cares. I don't need the damn govt. getting involved in what happens behind my closed doors! They already butt into my paycheck too much....

[jtsik330]

I'm pretty sure NC has the same law or atleast something like it. when I was taking my criminal justice teacher told us a story about a guy that they couldn't pin any charges on. His story was that he was getting a blowjob somewhere or something of the sort. He confessed to a felony and they booked him on that charge of sodomy. Its a tough world for gays and everyone else in it. They should be able to do whatever the hell they want.

[killerweed420]

Thats why its embarassing to admit I'm a conservative sometimes. I'm not a republican conservative and I'm certainly not a christian conservative. This is just an example of why you can not have religion involved in anyway with politics. There is very little difference between christians and islamics. Both want dominion over the world. They both believe they are the only ones with the answer to the world's salvation. Very dangerous people.

[t3rmites]

The stronger the anti-gay legislation, the gayer the person trying to pass the legislation secretly is, FACT...

[Islandborn]

Thats why its embarassing to admit I'm a conservative sometimes. I'm not a republican conservative and I'm certainly not a christian conservative. This is just an example of why you can not have religion involved in anyway with politics. There is very little difference between christians and islamics. Both want dominion over the world. They both believe they are the only ones with the answer to the world's salvation. Very dangerous people.

Thats silly......I am PROUDLY "conservative" in about 45% of the things we do (finances, my marriage) and Proudly "progressive" in tons of aspects of our lives and beliefs. We are all getting JACKED and turned against one another by the crooks in Washington both Republican and Democrat to pursue more money and more power and more control of all our lives.....black,white,brown,yellow,purple, and blue.....we are ALL getting screwed right now. We need a deep cleansing of washington with some regular people....of all beliefs and backgrouds and sexuality's who are just PROUD to be in Washington and will work their hearts out to bring us all together to find that middle ground which I REFUSE to believe isnt out there.

[dirtnasty]

What's even worse is Virginia...... "Virginia is for lovers" This state has the most laws governing sex.

Getting a blow job is actually illegal in virginia. Anything other than face to face sex between a male and female is illegal.

The funny thing is, it is the people that put up and accept this and that it is the people that give the goverment the power to make such stupid decisions.