It includes multiple disapproving passages on gay rights, gay parenthood and transgender issues. When Jim Kolbe, a gay congressman from Arizona, addressed the convention in 2000, he spoke about trade policy, making no mention of being gay or of gay rights. But the limited history of gay speakers at the Republican convention is probably not comforting. “I’m very comfortable and happy here.”José Cunningham, the chairman of the District of Columbia Republican Party, described himself as Republican primarily for national security reasons. The Democratic Party platform has called for general civil rights for gay men and lesbians since 1980.

Source: New York Times July 22, 2016 01:16 UTC