5. The party planks specify what the Texas GOP believes students should and should not be taught in the classroom about gender and sex, signaling further shifts to the right. Official Twitter account for the Republican Party of Texas. They make clear they want marijuana to remain illegal in Texas. The party's new official stance on LGBTQ issues was unveiled during Pride Month, and as advocates fight against a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in states across the country this year more than 340, according to the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBTQ advocacy group. Take for example, LGBTQ issues. "This is not surprising, but it certainly is painful for LGBTQ people who live here in Texas. 16), the Texas Republican Party victory chairman for 2022. b. After, Section 5 of the act was overturned in 2013. In 2015, Texas conservatives set their eyes on repealing the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which expanded civil rights Today, the start of Womens History Month, Mayday.Health is launching a multi-day education campaign centered around accessing abortion pills. The Texas GOP argues in their platform that hate crime laws should be repealed because there are already plenty of other laws covering crimes against other persons on the books. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Texas Republicans did well in the 2020 elections even though Biden won 46.5% of the Texas vote, the highest proportion for a Democrat since 1976 and this year, culture-war issues were once again at front and center. HOUSTON The Republican Party of Texas has controlled every lever of state government since 2003, and notched major victories last year on voting, redistricting, abortion, school curriculums. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. The Texas Republican Party isnt just ignoring science, theyre pushing against it. But Little of It Is New. In addition, Texas Republicans called for the ban of gender-affirming care including the distribution of puberty blockers or hormone-suppressing therapies, and the performance of gender-affirming surgeries for anyone under the age of 21. This and similar moves in other states spurred the Biden administration and top Democrats to try and pass a bill strengthening the Voting Rights Act, an effort that failed when two of their own senators refused to join an effort to reform the Senate filibuster. As the convention opened Thursday, party chairman Matt Rinaldi predicted the GOP would make gains in the fall. Last week, the president signed an executive order that will direct federal health and education agencies to expand access to gender-affirming care and advance LGBTQ-inclusive learning environments at American schools. Today's economy is even worse than the one inherited . I believe that in the sovereignty of God, you and I were purposely born into this moment, into this confusing time that we face, Campbell said. Capo said the platform plank banning the teaching of sexual matters appears to violate Title IX, which protects against sex-based discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We oppose any identification of citizens by race, origin, creed, sexuality, or lifestyle choices, and oppose use of any such identification for purposes of creating voting districts. Two themes are clear this year: From formally rejecting President Bidens 2020 win to outlawing LGBTQ+ marriage, the Texas GOP has unabashedly solidified their swing to the far-right. They are again voted on by that body, and if passed, continue up the chain to the platform committee at the state convention. In February, Texas Gov. Could they do it? While many of the platforms demands and recommendations are targeted at specific state-level regulations and policies, one section sticks out for its scope: a wishlist of edits the party would like to see made to the US Constitution itself. Secession is ridiculous, never going to happen, and legally impossible. Not every far-right proposal was advanced. If not for the rise of Trump , some of the discriminatory language used by the Republican Party may have receded. For many right-wingers, this is the highlight of their year. Texas GOP goes full MAGA at 2022 convention. So therefore, you cant do certain things, Ylana said. of hateful text, heres a brief rundown of their 2022 platform: of widespread voter fraud, the Texas GOP is claiming Bidens win null. According to the GOP, its not the failing grid, the winter storms, or the bass-ackwards policy making that has impaired Texas, but the U.S. government. We Texans cannot and we will not allow this to happen.. The Texas Republicans are trying to rewrite history with a party platform that calls for the restoration of any confederate monuments that have been removed anywhere in Texas. It's a backward-looking agenda of prim moralizing, anti . Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi said Our platform, taken as a whole, shows that the GOP is, above all, a party of parents, families, and working Americans dedicated to preserving the American dream for our children. Watch: Democrat committee chair (in Republican dominated Texas House) bans use of term "illegal immigrant." #txlege. Heres proof: They want NO gun free zones, unrestricted Constitutional Carry, and entirely, reform agreement thats going through Congress as we speak. On Saturday, thousands of Texas Republicans approved a new platform at the 2022 party convention in Houston, and it immediately caused a furor. National observers have written that these were all signs the party had lurched dramatically to the right. Despite losing 19 children and two teachers in the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas just weeks ago, the Texas GOP wants to expand gun access. What we put in the standards is factual and balanced, Patricia Hardy, a Republican board member from Fort Worth, told the Tribune Saturday after the platform vote. People stood up and booed U.S. Sen. John Cornyn as he spoke about potential gun legislation during the Republican Party of Texas 2022 convention in Houston on Friday. Think thats being dramatic? Paid for by the Republican Party of Texas and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Republican talking points on guns, yet it seems no matter how many Texans lose their lives, young or old, the GOPs guns will remain more important than life itself. Media. As a result, the 2022 GOP feels free to veer to the right to its hearts content, confident that it wont come back to haunt the party in November, except perhaps in a half dozen races, Jones said. Our commitment to ethical, fact-based journalism is vital to our democracy, and we cant do it without you. Sen. John Cornyn addressing the Texas Republican Convention in Houston, Texas, June 17, 2022. That is, they dont want Texans to have any. The 2022 Platform contains 274 planks, which was streamlined from 337 planks in 2020. What happened on, Secession is ridiculous, never going to happen, and. They approved measures declaring that President Joe Biden was not legitimately elected and rebuking Sen. John Cornyn for taking part in bipartisan gun talks. Critics say such policies would be harmful and discriminatory. The Texas Republican Party unveiled its official position on LGBTQ issues over the weekend, defining homosexuality as an "abnormal lifestyle choice" and also opposing "all efforts to validate transgender identity.". June 24, 2022. Texas Republicans met over the weekend and adopted a platform that would make Lincoln gasp and Sam Houston scream. Cookie Notice All school districts, individual schools, or charter schools are prohibited from contracting with or making any payment to any third party for material concerning any of the above topics. The voters are overwhelmingly in favor of it (83% for medicinal use), so of course the Republican Party of Texas is overwhelmingly against it. ", The Texas Republican Party blocked the Log Cabin Republicans, a longstanding group of gay conservatives which also supports many of the partys anti-LGBTQ policies from having a booth at Saturday's convention. They want any teacher who brings up LGBTQ+ topics to be prosecuted and have their teaching certification revoked. So they require legal protections, criminal protection, constitutional protections. The Texas Republican Party finished its 2022 platform priorities over the weekend at the Republican National Convention and gave a glimpse into some of the most powerful minds in power. ), The platform, meanwhile, always contains ludicrously extreme planks and is mostly irrelevant when it comes to actually passing bills. The Republican Party in Texas made a series of far-right declarations as part of its official party platform over the weekend, claiming that President Biden was not legitimately elected,. If it has a heartbeat, it's a human, right?. The Confederacy did not fight for states rights, they fought for the right to hold Black people as property. They make clear they want marijuana to remain illegal in Texas. 233. The Democrats wants three things: Their goals are to steal elections, suppress Republican votes and federalize elections, said Cindy Siegel, the chairperson of the Harris County GOP and a former mayor of Bellaire. They have rights that are just as valid and equal. Campbell and other activists frequently spoke of their Christian faith. The platform also calls for Congress to change the Communications Decency Act and limit online platforms from censoring certain users, a policy initiative Republicans also pushed in the 2022 legislative session. in 13 years has only led them to call for more guns blazing in every nook and cranny that Texas has to offer. And earlier this month, a Texas lawmaker announced that he would introduce novel legislation to ban minors from attending drag shows in the state. Considering hate crime rates are higher than they have been in over a decade, we think otherwise. A Federal Judge in Amarillo Could Effectively Ban the Abortion Pill. 433. And thats what three days of in-person voting would look like. Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick poses for photos with supporters in front of his pickup truck during the first day of the Republican Party of Texas convention in 2022. Kennedy brings her experience of writing about social justice issues to the Texas Signal where she serves as our Political Reporter. In the, Ep. Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle via AP file. 169. by Sewell Chan and Eric Neugeboren Folks aren't laughing anymore. The book bans often have targeted young adult literature with racial and LGBTQ+ themes. The state also has seen a push from far-right lawmakers and conservative parents to remove obscene content from school libraries and classrooms. Follow. Another indication of dysfunction was who didnt speak. The same blueprint applies in 2022, and to an even greater degree. In 2018, the idea of a total abortion ban seemed far fetched. On another note, the party also reignited its obsession with seceding from the United States, urging Texas lawmakers to create a referendum for Texas voters in the 2023 general election. Erich Schlegel / AP Images for Human Rights Campaign file, newly enacted Florida education legislation, nearly every leading U.S. medical association has condemned. Texas' rightward push was clear in ways beyond the party platform. Our country is on a trajectory to self-destruct, unless we change the direction.. Eleanor Dearman. His success has inspired the party to shift farther right. June 20 (UPI) -- Republicans in Texas adopted a party platform over the weekend that rejects the results of the 2020 presidential election, calls homosexuality "an abnormal lifestyle choice". Dan Patrick poses for photos with supporters during the first day of the Republican Party of . The 53-page document covers a range of topics familiar with the national GOP platform, but shows the state party's new strategy to gain political power. The platform process begins at the precinct level where grassroots delegates introduce resolutions and planks which are passed to the Senate or County District Convention. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. One of them was the conventions attendance. A difference of degrees is still a difference, however, and those degrees can add up over the years. The Republican Party of Texas has finally released its 2022 platform and the vote totals for each plank. Critics say that booklet, written by the state, includes scientifically unsupported claims and shames women seeking abortion care. The platforms authors describe homosexuality as an abnormal lifestyle choice and declare that they oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity while also calling for an end to any restriction on people practicing the harmful counselling methods widely referred to as conversion therapy for LGBT+ people. Think taxpayer money should not fund or subsidize high speed rail. Here's what we're watching. Every week, well give you the honest take on the news that impacts you without pretending it doesnt. Two themes are clear this year: conspiracy and regression. Look up the definition of sore loser in any dictionary and you might find a red elephant. The newly approved Texas GOP party platform broadly places the culture wars at its core, as the party adopted a slew of new platforms that shift the party further to the right on. The Republican Party of Texas released its 2022 platform today. After labeling homosexuality an abnormal lifestyle choice, they also call for the nullification of, (the landmark case making marriage equality the law of the land) with the goal of outlawing LGBTQ+ marriage regardless of state of origin.. Its daily. What happened on January 6, 2021 is evidence enough of that. Likes. In other cases, it is the MAGA folks following the Texas GOP, not the other way around. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Somewhere between four thousand and five thousand showed up, which is not unimpressive. The mascot of the convention this year, if not its star, wasnt a politician at all, but Lieutenant Governor Dan Patricks pickup truck, which got a berth of honor in the gatherings trade show. They want to get to the point where we can say, Well, no, this is a person. (The 2022 platform, for instance, opposes decriminalization of drugs but also calls for marijuana to be moved from the federal Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, which would lessen legal penalties.). Buy tickets. In addition to a number . The platform plank also states that students should witness a live ultrasound and watch a Miracle of Life type video. The 1982 film documents the human reproductive process from conception to birth. Nearly 90% support a vote on TEXIT. Greg Abbottorderedthe states child welfare agency to investigate child abuse claims filed against parents who might be providing their trans children with gender-affirming medical care. 19 June 2022 In the midst of the January 6 House Select Committee hearings detailing the attempt of Donald Trump to overthrow the government, based on the lie that the 2020 election was . The 53-page document covers a range of topics familiar with the national GOP platform, but shows the state partys new strategy to gain political power. A document from the party's Platforms and Resolutions committee developed during its recent state conference in Houston, revealed the party's intention to hold [] The Texas Republican platform was once considered the musings of the most fringe elements of the party, mocked or ignored by elected leaders and most others. In addition to a number of controversial policy planks, it also called on the state legislature to authorize a referendum on secession from the United States. Along with this call to shore up the right of secession, the platform calls for a convention of states to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government. One policy proposal called on state lawmakers to prohibit the teaching, exposure, and/or discussion of sexual matters (mechanics, feelings, orientation or gender identity issues), as well as remove related books or materials from schools. 6 min read Texas Republicans want to secede from the United States. Abolishing the Federal Reserve, the nations central bank, and guaranteeing the right to use alternatives to cash, including cryptocurrencies. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom. Imagine the mess it would create if Texas was limited to holiday shopping over three days in December, with no online options available - many people would just skip it. The Republican Party of Texas is considering censuring a GOP congressman from the state for his votes in favor of marriage equality and gun control. Texas Republicans, who hold a majority of both chambers, want to do the exact opposite. Disclosure: Rice University and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Austin, TX texasgop.org Born July 4 Joined May 2009. His success has inspired the party to shift farther right. I would like to thank the delegates and platform committee members who have put in countless hours to produce this platform. Are you tired of Texas Republicans pushing big lies and trying to steal your vote? Paid for by the Republican Party of Texas and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. The Republicans' 2022 platform is outlined in a 40-page document that addresses state issues but also much broader priorities such as calling for the U.S. to leave the United Nations.. Leave them blank to get signed up. In April 2022 polling, for example, 87% of Texas Republicans said that " the sex listed on a person's original birth certificate should be the only way to define a person's gender," while only 9% said that gays and lesbians face "a lot" of discrimination in America today, compared to 31% who said the same of Christians and 34% who said the same https://texassignal.com/author/kennedysessions/, Texas lawmaker proposes age-appropriate book bill, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wins re-election race. Join us Sept. 22-24 in person in downtown Austin for The Texas Tribune Festival and experience 100+ conversation events featuring big names you know and others you should from the worlds of politics, public policy, the media and tech all curated by The Texas Tribunes award-winning journalists. Donald Trump Jr. put out a statement in support of the Log Cabin Republicans getting a booth. After labeling homosexuality an abnormal lifestyle choice, they also call for the nullification of Obergefell v. Hodges (the landmark case making marriage equality the law of the land) with the goal of outlawing LGBTQ+ marriage regardless of state of origin.. In a recent poll, Texans said the top priority of the Texas Legislature should be lowering the cost of health care. Nevertheless, the platform corresponds with the partys constant policy attacks against the LGBTQ community, including Texas Gov. Were meant to be alive, at this time, right now, and here in this state.. The additions to the state GOP platform related to teaching Texas students about sex and sexuality come months after Gov. Greg Abbott's anti-refugee policies on November 22, 2015 in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans ended a three-day convention Saturday with votes on a swath of proposed changes to their platform that would pull the party further right. Party platforms are mission statements rather than legal doctrines and, in Texas, they have long reflected the opinions of the most activist wings of the parties. More broadly, the platform is another salvo in the anti-permissive battle being waged by the right across the country. Cars Spun Doughnuts in Austin, And Greg Abbott Got Furious, Fast, Wendy Davis Returns to the Texas Capitol and a Whole New Political Landscape. Why Does He Get to Make That Call? The only thing impairing Texas is our Republican leadership. The Texas GOP is the most successful state party in the country, judging by length of rule and its ability to pass right-wing legislation, and Abbott is its standard-bearer. Put lives at risk by defending the NRA. This happened at their annual convention last week in the middle of Pride Month.. CALL FOR TEXAS TO SECEDE FROM THE U.S. Yeah, theyre on this bullshit again. The platform-drafting process at the Texas Republican convention is a sort of day-care program for the grassroots. Those delegates said Saturday they prefer such conversations happen at home. Austin, TX, Release: July 6, 2022 For Immediate Release. Oh, and why not regress even further by repealing all hate crime laws? Under Texas law, parents currently must provide written consent for their children to attend sex education classes, which are required to emphasize abstinence. Texas secession. A Navy SEAL veteran, Crenshaw lost his right eye to a bomb in Afghanistan. On Saturday, thousands of Texas Republicans approved a new platform at the 2022 party convention in Houston, and it immediately caused a furor. That goes back to biology, back into teaching sex as biology, said Julie Pickren, who told The Texas Tribune that sex education has a place only if it follows state health education standards and is age appropriate. They. Amending the Texas Constitution to remove the Legislatures power to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.. In 2022, the Texas GOP still says President Joe Biden didnt legitimately win the 2020 election, and the new platform supports the Texas Attorney Generals continued investigation of voter fraud claims. In the Washington Post, Greg Sargent wrote that the 2022 platform lays bare some ugly truths about how radical the abandonment of democracy among some Republicans has truly become, singling out one plank in particular that calls for the repeal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Republican elected officials are not bound to adhere to the platform, and party activists at times have expressed frustration that some parts of their platform and legislative priorities have not become law, despite complete Republican control of the state Legislature. One reason might be that years ago the convention was a place where factions of the party would come together and vigorously contest ideas. The Texas Republican Party convention starts Thursday. Their next step is to criminalize abortion, go after Plan B, and restrict birth control. Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens noted at a press conference that the legislation aims to "protect . Now theres little to contest. Observers cite the partys convention as evidence that state Republicans have gone full MAGA. But if anything, MAGA folks are following Texas. The Texas Republican party adopted a new platform on Saturday that refers to homosexuality as "abnormal" and "opposes all efforts to validate transgender . In addition to the platform, the delegates voted to choose 8 among 15 legislative priorities to be shared with Republican lawmakers ahead of the legislative session that starts in January. U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, of Lubbock, described an unprecedented, unmitigated, self-inflicted disaster that is creating the worst humanitarian and national security threat to the American people in the history of our southern border, adding, this is an invasion, folks.. They want schools and the military to require adherence to the gender binary and oppose all forms of validation for transgender folks, whether physical or verbal. Finally, the platform committee presents a draft document to the entire State Convention, and delegates are given the opportunity to vote yes or no on each individual plank. Texas Lt. Gov. The Texas GOP is out of step with the majority of Americans who believe in equality, said Zeph Capo, president of the Texas chapter of American Federation of Teachers. About 9,600 delegates and alternates were eligible to attend; organizers said turnout was a bit more than half that. Austin, TX, June 13, 2022 Stump speeches, platform fights, and rules maneuvers are customary at the nation's largest state party convention but it's the more discreet intra-party jostling that makes the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) convention a fascinating event.. Two years removed from the virtual blunder that was the 2020 Texas GOP Convention a makeshift online event after . End of sentence. Axioss write-up concurred: Texas GOP goes full MAGA.. "Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice," the 40-page resolution reads. A more aggressive party platform sends a clear message to politicians about where the base is going, Rottinghaus said. The platform committee reviews every passed plank, hears public testimony, and further amends the platform. Heres proof: They want NO gun free zones, unrestricted Constitutional Carry, and entirely reject the bipartisan gun reform agreement thats going through Congress as we speak. It is rare for a plank to be rejected, Texas GOP party spokesperson James Wesolek said. Their next step is to criminalize abortion, go after Plan B, and restrict birth control. But in 2018 and 2020, the platform still called it an abnormal lifestyle choice, just in a polite way, writing that homosexual sex was not part of Gods biblical design and is contrary to the foundation for all great nations in Western Civilization. That softened language was the aberration: prior to 2018, the platform condemned homosexuality as an aberration and insult to God that tears at the fabric of society and spreads communicable diseases.. Texas Lt. Gov. The platform plank does not specify which grades should get these lessons, except to say that high school students should read the Womans Right to Know booklet. And even the partys pragmatic center right conservatives lack the ability to argue, as they did successfully in 2020, that an ultra conservative platform could cost the GOP its majority status in the Lone Star State.