The LGBT community is no stranger to bigotry, hatred, and even racism. No truer is this then when it comes to right-wing GOP hardliners – who continue to antagonize the LGBT at every turn. From conversions to emphasizing the practices of sin, the GOP has targeted gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender communities for countless decades. In fact, they are the party of hate – as we can see with the divisiveness and uncertainty the current Presidential candidate has bestowed upon the nation.
A Brief History of GOP Anti-LGBT
Even with the Log Cabin Republicans – the premier gay Conservative group in the nation – homosexuals have always been targeted by the so-called Christian Right. And despite the differences between Evangelicals and more moderate Republications and Conservative Democrats, the GOP has had an extensive history of anti-LGBT stances. This includes outright defamation, along with proposed or official legislation to marginalize alternative lifestyles.
Here are some highlights and important points chronicling the GOP pogrom against LGBT communities over the years:
- In 1992, the GOP felt the LGBT community should not be a protected minority.
- Also in 1992 – the GOP opposed any law or legislation that recognized same-sex marriages – or couples of the same sex adopting children.
- The Grand Old Party also supported the exclusion of homosexuals in the military and armed forces.
- In 2000, the GOP did not believe that sexual preference should be given special legal protection.
- In 2008, the Republican Congress passed The Defense of Marriage Act. This made it legal for states not to recognize or issue certification for same-sex marriages.
These are but a few instances of Republicans opposing gay marriages and reiterating their stances – that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. However, many gay Republicans have been outed or chose to come clean about their sexual preferences in recent years. And with the recent shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, many questions about motive, race, religion and other factors have weighed heavily in this time of national and international crisis.
As we continue to see homophobia, Islamophobia, and the Black Lives Matter movement championing the cause to protect African-Americans from police brutality – it seems that all roads lead back to the GOP. With the general election just a few months away, the nation has never been more divided or confused on countless economic, political and social issues.
Image via Flickr by Buunnymaan under Creative Commons 2.0.
