The Texas Republican Party on Saturday
approved a platform which endorses therapies aimed at altering the
sexual orientation of people from gay to straight.
According to the
AP, officials cut off debate on the language which had been added
earlier in the week by calling for full approval of the platform
before opponents were allowed to speak.
The new plank recognizes “the
legitimacy and efficacy of counseling, which offers reparative
therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and
wholeness for their homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive
orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of
therapy.”
Calling such treatments harmful,
California and New Jersey lawmakers have outlawed so-called
“reparative” therapy to minors. A handful of other states are
considering following suit.
Cathie Adams, head of Texas Eagle
Forum, spearheaded the endorsement, calling it a “freedom issue.”
“If a person chooses counseling, then
it should be made available,” she told CNN, adding that she does
not think “homosexuals are born as homosexuals.”
People “can definitely choose their
lifestyles,” Adams
said.
The American Medical Association, the
American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological
Association oppose gay conversion therapy.
LGBT GOP groups Log Cabin Republicans
and Metroplex Republicans were successful in removing language from
the platform which described “the practice of homosexuality” as
“tearing at the fabric of society” and “contributing to the
breakdown of the family unit.”
(Related: Texas
GOP considers removing anti-gay language from platform.)