Such language wouldn't be necessary if the following was adopted as platform language instead:
"No federal or state law will be enacted which imposes by fiat legislation on any adult or group of adults a moral, ethical, religious, sexual, racial or civil standard of societal conduct. Any such laws in existence are to be repealed. We believe an individual has the right to live their life as they see fit so long as they do not violate the individual rights of others."
Thus laws written to deny rights to anyone through fiat imposition of legislation of any of the above becomes invalid.
I agree with Ron's broad point (and the language he proposes).
I would only add that the LP platform should note that immediate repeals of these laws are unlikely, and should express a transitional approach that reduces the impact of those discriminatory laws over time by eliminating language in the existing marriage and other regimes that restricts access to certain genders. These transitional steps should be designated as marriage equality, gays in the military, etc. and it should be noted that these steps, as a transitional measure, are beneficial to all people regardless of their perspective on the broader issue, as they reduce the power of government to dominate our lives.
The platform should also note that a great deal of the anti-gay law on a state and federal level is unconstitutional: i.e. a violation of the 14th and 9th amendments as well as the equal protection clause of the Constitution. These are themes that can be carried, easily, to other policy issues within the Libertarian platform.
Another thing to remember is that the LGBTQ community is hypersensitive to weasel words (with significant justification given the treatment received from the Clintons and their political progeny). Thus, it's also important to not only reaffirm LGBTQ rights as Americans, but to ensure that the language and approach used is consistent with the other portions of the platform.
Cheers,
Brian
Ron Getty <tradergroupe@...> wrote:
Dear Brian Holtz;
Such language wouldn't be necessary if the following was adopted as platform language instead:
"No federal or state law will be enacted which imposes by fiat legislation on any adult or group of adults a moral, ethical, religious, sexual, racial or civil standard of societal conduct. Any such laws in existence are to be repealed. We believe an individual has the right to live their life as they see fit so long as they do not violate the individual rights of others."
Thus laws written to deny rights to anyone through fiat imposition of legislation of any of the above becomes invalid.