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Tony Perkins gloating over GOP support for ‘ex-gay’ conversion therapy

Tony Perkins gloating over GOP support for ‘ex-gay’ conversion therapy

A proposed new plank in the Republican Party platform to be adopted in Cleveland next week endorses a controversial practice that is outlawed in several states, denounced by leading medical authorities and a clearly anti-LGBTQ stance by the GOP: “ex-gay” reparative or “conversion therapy.”

And as first reported by The New Civil Rights Movement’s David Badash, the man who introduced the idea is none other than Tony Perkins, the leader of a group certified to be extremist and antigay, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

While Perkins may call the treatment “proper,” the American Medical Association and many other professional psychology and medical groups around the world condemn the practice, which aims to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of someone against their will, most notably, children. In some places it is described as an effort to “pray the gay away.” Several states have outlawed the practice and those laws have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Perkins was quick to crow about his efforts, which also included adding so-called “religious freedom” protections and a call to reverse the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, as reported by JoeMyGod:

“The marriage plank was strengthened with language explaining why children deserve a mom and dad. Religious liberty text was added protecting businesses and military service members. I also took the opportunity to successfully introduce an amendment to address the events in Dallas and my home town of Baton Rouge stating that “the next president must cease sowing seeds of division and distrust between the police and the people they have sworn to serve and protect. The Republican Party, a party of law and order, must make clear in both words and actions that every human life matters.”

“We are also pleased that the party is now on record standing with the 23 states that are suing President Obama over his bathroom & locker room edict. These amendments were overwhelmingly adopted. There were a handful of LGBT activists and sympathizers who opposed language highlighting the privacy and safety concerns related to the president’s locker room decrees as well as the party’s clearly stated view that natural marriage is the cornerstone of society. Some in the media attempted to seize on this as evidence of a divided party. Far from it. My prediction is that Republicans will leave Cleveland with a solid platform and will unite around the party’s nominee for the purpose of saving America for the next generation and beyond.”

While he gloats, however, the head of the Family Research Council is not truly victorious as of yet. The plank he introduced must still be voted on by a committee, and then all voting members of the Republican National Committee, before becoming an official part of the 2016 platform.

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