Texas Republicans think Uganda is swell

The Texas Republican Party is channeling the antigay forces in Uganda. You know, the Uganda Kill-the-Gays bill, inspired by American activists, that not only criminalized homosexuality to the point of death but also called for the imprisonment of anyone who knew and did not report on, Teh Gay. It's the Stasi all over, with a rainbow twist.

Rob Tisinai, at the outstanding blog, Waking up Now, reports that the Republican Party Platform in Texas calls for the overt criminalization of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. He compares word for word the Texas Republican Party Platform and the Uganda Bill. For example,

We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.

That might inconvenience more than a few straight couples, or so I'm told....

If we just focus on the the features of the platform (pdf) that focus on marriage:

Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. ...

And it is not just Teh Gay who get in trouble:

We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to perform a marriage ceremony for such.

I suggest you go over to Rob's blog and read the whole comparison: it's chilling. As Rob says,

The Texas GOP controls the governor’s office, the State Senate, and the State House. This is the platform of the people in charge. Remember that when somebody tells you gays don’t face the same threat to our civil rights as other minorities.

Now, can we expect to hear a backlash or protest?


{{{cicadas}}}