Disgusting provisions attacking transgender people, opposing marriage equality, sanctioning practice of so-called “conversion therapy” that harms children -- all among provisions the RNC advanced today

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, called for the Republican Party to reject a slew of anti-LGBTQ provisions after media reports that its policy subcommittee proposed adding to the GOP platform a provision supporting anti-transgender discrimination, a provision calling for a Constitutional amendment undermining marriage equality, and a provision supporting the discredited practice of “conversion therapy." The proposals to undermine marriage equality and attack transgender people align with anti-LGBTQ stances taken by the party’s presumptive nominee, Donald Trump. HRC urged the RNC and Trump campaign to strike the anti-LGBTQ provisions advanced today, and for all sponsors and convention affiliates to make clear their opposition to the proposals.

“The Republican Party’s message is clear: Their proposed platform says LGBTQ people are second class citizens, and that we are not equal or worthy of basic fairness or dignity,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “This is a shameful and repugnant message for the Republican Party to send, particularly as the nation prepares to mark the one month anniversary of the tragedy in Orlando. These are not values that the majority of fair-minded voters --  of either party -- share, and the RNC should immediately reject ignorant and hateful provisions targeting LGBTQ people. We hope convention sponsors and elected officials affiliated with this event will strongly encourage the RNC to strike the anti-LGBTQ provisions that were advanced today.”

The committee’s efforts to insert language into the GOP platform specifically targeting transgender people echoes the malicious intent of North Carolina’s HB2 law -- which was rammed through by the state legislature and Governor Pat McCrory in under 12 hours earlier this spring, specifically to undermine the rights of LGBTQ people across the state. The vile measure has remained on the books despite overwhelming opposition from more than 200 business leaders, civil rights advocates, and even national Republican leaders. Donald Trump, however, is among those supporting Governor McCrory and his shameful HB2 law; last week, he confirmed in his strongest terms yet his support for HB2.

Winterhof continued, “It’s clear who is leading the party now.  Donald Trump gave a full-throated endorsement to North Carolina’s HB2, and now the RNC is following in his shameful, fear-mongering footsteps.”

Trump remains dangerously out of step with the majority of fair-minded Americans who believe that LGBT people should be treated equally under the law. Trump has not only promised to use the Supreme Court to roll back nationwide marriage equality, but he’s supported a bill that would lead to more Kim Davis-style discrimination, and said that he would allow states like North Carolina to violate federal civil rights laws.

Tomorrow, on the one-month anniversary of the Orlando tragedy, House Republicans have called a hearing on the so-called First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) -- a bill backed by Donald Trump that would enable Kim Davis-style discrimination in all 50 states. Donald Trump previously said, “If Congress considers the First Amendment Defense Act a priority, then I will do all I can to make sure it comes to my desk for signatures and enactment.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.