* “Government should treat all citizens impartially, without regard to wealth, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, sex, political affiliation or …national origin. We oppose all forms of invidious discrimination. Sexual orientation is not an appropriate category.”
* “The ideal environment for raising children is a two-parent family with a mother and father who are married and committed to that life-long relationship…. We oppose adoption by same-sex couples.”
* “We support federal and State constitutional amendments to limit marriage to the union of one man and one woman.”
* “We oppose sex education in public schools without parental consent …. We support teaching abstinence until marriage as the expected norm for sexual behavior…. Public schools should not be used to teach children about homosexual behavior.”

Read the full platform statement at http://www.ncgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Proposed-Platform-of-the-2012-State-Convention.pdf.

In response, Equality NC executive director Stuart Campbell called the Republican Party positions on LGBT North Carolinians troubling considering the pervasive bi-partisan opposition to the recent anti-LGBT ballot referendum, Amendment One.

‘We are deeply disappointed and troubled at the glaring anti-LGBT tone of the North Carolina GOP platform statement in light of how many Republicans came out against Amendment One,” said Campbell. “While there’s is considerable state and national evidence to show that using LGBT people as a political wedge issue has lost its proverbial ‘edge,’ these positions only act to galvanize the growing statewide grassroots activism for electing pro-equality candidates and removing those from office who seek to put our state on the wrong side of history. We vow to lead this charge and call on all fair-minded NC Republicans to reject this divisive language in a document that will guide the policies of the RepublicanParty over the next two years.”

Equality NC’s Board Chairman Dan Gurley, also a former Republican National Committee (RNC) National Field Director, Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger, and North Carolina Republican Party Executive Director, also shared his own disappointment with the Republican Party’s agenda.

“The stateRepublican Party platform targeting LGBT North Carolinians stands in stark contrast to the recent tidal wave of Republican opposition to the anti-LGBT Amendment One,” said Guley. “North Carolina Republicans deserve better than an agenda that would ceaselessly expand government encroachment in the lives of LGBT North Carolinians as well as singling out gay and lesbian citizens for exclusion from basic protections. This divisive platform not only aggravates a public already reeling from the Amendment One fight, it distracts from the important work to be done: creating jobs, balancing the budget, and righting an ailing NC economy. We call on the Republican Party to reevaluate its position to not only remain relevant but keep our great state on the right side of history.”