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| Republicans could be poised for a battle over gay rights at the GOP convention | Republicans could be poised for a battle over gay rights at the GOP convention |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Republican party could be poised for a fractious proxy battle over LGBTI rights after activists on the party platform committee announced they had sufficient support to potentially force a vote on the convention floor. | The Republican party could be poised for a fractious proxy battle over LGBTI rights after activists on the party platform committee announced they had sufficient support to potentially force a vote on the convention floor. |
| Republican supporters of more gay-friendly policies would use a “minority report” to the GOP platform to try to strip all references to LGBTI issues from the party manifesto. Instead, it would be replaced with a scaled-back, 1,200-word statement of conservative principles. | Republican supporters of more gay-friendly policies would use a “minority report” to the GOP platform to try to strip all references to LGBTI issues from the party manifesto. Instead, it would be replaced with a scaled-back, 1,200-word statement of conservative principles. |
| The vehicle used by activists was a proposal by Boyd Matheson of Utah for a shorter, more concise platform. Traditionally, both parties have adopted long laundry lists of policy statements, and the Republican platform in 2012 totaled 33,000 words. The Utah Republican thought the GOP should adopt something far shorter, similar to the party’s 1860 platform. | The vehicle used by activists was a proposal by Boyd Matheson of Utah for a shorter, more concise platform. Traditionally, both parties have adopted long laundry lists of policy statements, and the Republican platform in 2012 totaled 33,000 words. The Utah Republican thought the GOP should adopt something far shorter, similar to the party’s 1860 platform. |
| However, within an hour of activists claiming they had more than the 28 signatures needed to trigger a minority report, Matheson recanted his support for the initiative. | However, within an hour of activists claiming they had more than the 28 signatures needed to trigger a minority report, Matheson recanted his support for the initiative. |
| At a press event, Matheson told reporters that the effort “had been hijacked in its last stages by those who may use it for divisive purposes and for a specific agenda”. | At a press event, Matheson told reporters that the effort “had been hijacked in its last stages by those who may use it for divisive purposes and for a specific agenda”. |
| He said he was removing his name from the document and “called on fellow delegates, friends and colleagues” to do so as well, adding that he hoped they would “repudiate this kind of behavior”. | He said he was removing his name from the document and “called on fellow delegates, friends and colleagues” to do so as well, adding that he hoped they would “repudiate this kind of behavior”. |
| Republican staffers then prevented Matheson from fully answering questions and escorted him from reporters. Matheson was the second delegate out of third to sign the minority report after Annie Dickerson of New York, a vocal advocate for Republicans to advance LGBTI rights. | Republican staffers then prevented Matheson from fully answering questions and escorted him from reporters. Matheson was the second delegate out of third to sign the minority report after Annie Dickerson of New York, a vocal advocate for Republicans to advance LGBTI rights. |
| Dickerson, along with other delegates and operatives connected to the American Unity Fund, a pro-LGBTI rights group funded by conservative megadonor Paul Singer, promoted the minority report, joining Matheson’s effort for a more concise platform. | Dickerson, along with other delegates and operatives connected to the American Unity Fund, a pro-LGBTI rights group funded by conservative megadonor Paul Singer, promoted the minority report, joining Matheson’s effort for a more concise platform. |
| Earlier, they had unsuccessfully sought to remove anti-same-sex marriage language from the GOP’s platform but failed in an effort to specify LGBTI people as targets of Isis. | Earlier, they had unsuccessfully sought to remove anti-same-sex marriage language from the GOP’s platform but failed in an effort to specify LGBTI people as targets of Isis. |
| The proposed minority report spoke only about “core principles”, saying “the cornerstone of American government is the principle of human equality enunciated in the Declaration of Independence”, and went on to touch on key Republican issues such as condemning government regulation and promoting the right to life, religious liberty and secure borders. | The proposed minority report spoke only about “core principles”, saying “the cornerstone of American government is the principle of human equality enunciated in the Declaration of Independence”, and went on to touch on key Republican issues such as condemning government regulation and promoting the right to life, religious liberty and secure borders. |
| The language was described by Rachel Hoff of Washington DC, the first openly gay delegate in the history of the platform committee, as “the least divisive thing that committee addressed over two days”. | The language was described by Rachel Hoff of Washington DC, the first openly gay delegate in the history of the platform committee, as “the least divisive thing that committee addressed over two days”. |
| The current draft Republican platform, agreed to on Tuesday, features a variety of controversial provisions that include calling internet pornography “a public health crisis”, implied support for conversion therapy for gay youths, and a provision to force the federal government to hand over public lands to states. | The current draft Republican platform, agreed to on Tuesday, features a variety of controversial provisions that include calling internet pornography “a public health crisis”, implied support for conversion therapy for gay youths, and a provision to force the federal government to hand over public lands to states. |
| Related: From LGBTI rights to porn, Republicans hash out their stance on social issues | Related: From LGBTI rights to porn, Republicans hash out their stance on social issues |
| The minority report would remove all of this controversial language as well as dozens of other red meat conservative policy positions, including a provision calling for “a border wall [that] must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic”. | The minority report would remove all of this controversial language as well as dozens of other red meat conservative policy positions, including a provision calling for “a border wall [that] must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic”. |
| No complete copy of the draft platform has been made publicly available, and party officials said one will not be made available until Monday. | No complete copy of the draft platform has been made publicly available, and party officials said one will not be made available until Monday. |
| The minority report, and the furious attempt to quash it, comes after the Trump campaign has taken a relatively lax approach to the platform. Kris Kobach, the secretary of state of Kansas and a member of the platform committee, said: “I think his campaign positions are very consistent with what the platform is becoming during the process and there hasn’t really been tension from the campaign.” He compared it to 2008 when there was “really high tension” between the McCain campaign and delegates. The single instance of a concern that he could even remember from the presumptive nominee was language concerning “Puerto Rico and the territories”. | The minority report, and the furious attempt to quash it, comes after the Trump campaign has taken a relatively lax approach to the platform. Kris Kobach, the secretary of state of Kansas and a member of the platform committee, said: “I think his campaign positions are very consistent with what the platform is becoming during the process and there hasn’t really been tension from the campaign.” He compared it to 2008 when there was “really high tension” between the McCain campaign and delegates. The single instance of a concern that he could even remember from the presumptive nominee was language concerning “Puerto Rico and the territories”. |
| Platform committee member Stephen Stepanek of New Hampshire, who chaired the Trump campaign in the home state, told the Guardian he had originally signed the minority report and said he felt that he had been misled. Stepanek said the minority report draft “was basically represented to me today. I looked at it, I read it and as a salesperson and said, ‘I could sell this’.” However, two hours later, Stepanek said he had only signed it because he had been told it was a resolution, not a replacement to the platform. He assured the Guardian that he had since withdrawn his signature as well. | Platform committee member Stephen Stepanek of New Hampshire, who chaired the Trump campaign in the home state, told the Guardian he had originally signed the minority report and said he felt that he had been misled. Stepanek said the minority report draft “was basically represented to me today. I looked at it, I read it and as a salesperson and said, ‘I could sell this’.” However, two hours later, Stepanek said he had only signed it because he had been told it was a resolution, not a replacement to the platform. He assured the Guardian that he had since withdrawn his signature as well. |
| Another signer, Ben Marchi of Maryland, said he had been misled too. He was appalled at what he saw as deception and said he told several gay Republican friends already that the backlash to this would set their cause back in four years. | Another signer, Ben Marchi of Maryland, said he had been misled too. He was appalled at what he saw as deception and said he told several gay Republican friends already that the backlash to this would set their cause back in four years. |
| The signers represented a diverse group and even included David Barton, a rightwing historian and one of the most vocal social conservatives in the Republican party. | |
| However, a Republican source close to what was referred to as the “minority resolution” insisted there was no effort to deceive. Instead, the Republican insisted “this was described as a resolution by a minority, described to them as a resolution to adopt the delegate from Utah’s language”. | However, a Republican source close to what was referred to as the “minority resolution” insisted there was no effort to deceive. Instead, the Republican insisted “this was described as a resolution by a minority, described to them as a resolution to adopt the delegate from Utah’s language”. |
| Instead, the source pointed pressure from party leaders as the reason for the contretemps. “The deal is that the RNC wants to control this process incredibly tightly and don’t want any shenanigans, and so they are pressuring this sweet gentleman from Utah to withdraw this thing.” The result was that supportive delegates were being “intimidated and bullied”. | Instead, the source pointed pressure from party leaders as the reason for the contretemps. “The deal is that the RNC wants to control this process incredibly tightly and don’t want any shenanigans, and so they are pressuring this sweet gentleman from Utah to withdraw this thing.” The result was that supportive delegates were being “intimidated and bullied”. |
| However, much of the hullaballoo happened because of confusion over party rules. Those seeking a minority report have an hour to do so after the final platform is officially approved next Monday. Those seeking changes confused that with today’s vote on finalizing the draft platform and thus launched their coup almost a week too early. | However, much of the hullaballoo happened because of confusion over party rules. Those seeking a minority report have an hour to do so after the final platform is officially approved next Monday. Those seeking changes confused that with today’s vote on finalizing the draft platform and thus launched their coup almost a week too early. |
| The minority report still has a long way to go to become the official manifesto of the Republican party. At least 28 of its 37 original supporters must stand by it on Monday, and organizers then have to formally file signatures with any of four party officials within an hour period. Only then can it be voted on by the 2,473 delegates to the RNC, a majority of whom must approve it. | The minority report still has a long way to go to become the official manifesto of the Republican party. At least 28 of its 37 original supporters must stand by it on Monday, and organizers then have to formally file signatures with any of four party officials within an hour period. Only then can it be voted on by the 2,473 delegates to the RNC, a majority of whom must approve it. |