TOPEKA — Citing God’s guidance, the Kansas Republican Party has declared itself against same-sex marriage in an early unreleased version of its proposed 2024 platform.
“God created man and woman,” the proposed platform reads. “Therefore, as defined by the Kansas Constitution, the benefits and privileges of marriage exist only between one man and one woman. … Most of our societal ills are the result of godlessness and the resultant broken family structure. Government cannot replace God or the traditional family.”
The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex unions in its 2015 Obergefell v Hodges decision.
The proposed platform, which condemns abortion and gun control measures, among others, will be up for consideration and debate on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27 at the Kansas GOP Convention. Mike Brown, the Kansas Republican Party chairman, did not respond to Kansas Reflector inquiries about the platform.
Opposition to same-sex marriage is warranted because “children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage,” according to the platform, which also calls for a federal constitutional amendment limiting marriage to being between a man and a woman.
The platform also specifies that legislatures and judges should not pass other arrangements equivalent to marriage for non-traditional families.
Legislators in Topeka gave the proposed platform a mixed reception.
Rep. Bill Clifford, R-Garden City, said he didn’t oppose “people who love each other uniting for life.”
Rep. Adam Thomas, R-Olathe, wouldn’t say whether he supported same-sex marriage.
“I don’t think my personal feelings towards the matter matter, because the Supreme Court’s decided already,” Thomas said. “If it’s the law of the land, we can continue to say there are certain things based off our belief structure that we may not agree with. And I think that’s acceptable and okay to be in a platform. But I do think the Supreme Court has made the decision on that.”
When asked for his thoughts on the idea that societal problems can be traced to a lack of religion, Thomas said family life and children’s upbringing were important factors.
“As a person of faith, we’ve kicked God out of schools, the church has been sort of marginalized in the way they’re treated,” Thomas said. “A lot of the problems I feel like in this country can be traced back to home, two parents in the household and just being there for our kids. A lot of this country’s problems start at home, but to continue to remove God from the equation can obviously do more damage than good.”
Rep. Mark Schreiber, R-Emporia, said there were a variety of beliefs in the Kansas Republican Party, but he personally had no problem with same-sex marriage.
“It’s a committee of people that create that platform, and they put in there what they believe is what they want to see in their party,” Schreiber said. “But from my perspective on gay marriage, I don’t have any difficulty with that or think it shouldn’t occur. … Just like within any party, there’s a wide spectrum of strong beliefs.”
Schreiber said he was more focused on tax policy as a legislative priority and said he was not sure how much the platform influences legislation.
