The current Republican Party of Minnesota standing platform opposes same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships. It supports banning the discussion of LGBT issues in schools, and opposes allowing gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the military. In 2014, the party added support for discrimination against LGBT people based on “religious freedom.” It’s the most anti-LGBT platform in more than 20 years, and possibly in the party’s history, according to a review of party platforms since 1996.

The party platform outlines a party’s goals and what they hope to achieve. Generally, candidates running as an endorsed candidate of that party are expected to abide by the party platform if elected to create or implement laws.

The evolution of the Republican Party of Minnesota platform on LGBT issues has been occurring since 1996, and inversely follows gains in LGBT rights.

In 1996, the platform contained one anti-LGBT plank: “Opposing recognition of same sex marriages or establishment of homosexuals as a protected class.” That was the same year that President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law, and a year later the Minnesota Legislature passed Minnesota’s version.

In the explanatory text accompanying that plank, the party wrote:

We oppose efforts to ‘redefine’ the family. We recognize the institution of marriage as a union only between one man and one woman. We would support legislation and, if necessary, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which would permanently erect a wall protecting the traditional interpretation of marriage and the rights and privileges which accompany this institution.

In 1998, the party kept the 1996 language about opposing marriage equality, and added the following: “Making it easier and less costly for heterosexual parents to adopt children of any race.” The 2000 and 2002 platforms were identical to the 1998 platform on LGBT issues.

By 2004, the party had updated language about their opposition to same-sex marriage to include opposition to civil unions and domestic partnerships: “We should amend the U.S. Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution to define marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman. We oppose civil unions or their legal equivalents between same-sex couples. Domestic partner benefits should not be publicly funded.” At that time, then-Sen. Michele Bachmann was pushing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.

In 2006, the MN GOP kept the opposition to relationship recognition for same-sex couples, and added a “no promo homo” plank calling for the censorship of LGBT issues in schools: “Enforcement of existing laws prohibiting promotion of acceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgenderism when they are discussed in Minnesota public school classrooms.”

The 2008 platform stayed the same as 2006.

In 2010, the party added a plank that opposes gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the military: “We should maintain the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the 1993 law banning open homosexuals from serving in the military.” At that time, President Barack Obama and Congress were working to repeal the policy, which was complete by 2011.

In 2012, the party underwent a rewrite of much of the platform. It kept in the “no promo homo” plank and revised it to read:

We believe that K-12 public school teachers should not initiate discussion, teach lessons, or provide resources to students on the topic of family structure, human sexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgenderism. Instead, we should require that K-12 public school teachers teach about sexual abstinence, that premarital sex and extramarital sex is wrong, and that the use of contraceptives is not safe sex.

The section on opposition to legal recognition for same-sex couples was also updated to read:

Defend the Definition of Marriage
We believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, and that the U.S. Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to this effect. We oppose civil unions or their legal equivalents between same-sex couples and, therefore, domestic partner benefits should not be publicly funded

The platform kept the opposition to gays, lesbians, and bisexuals serving in the military.

The current platform was finalized last year and keeps most of the anti-LGBT planks developed over the last two decades. A new plank in 2014 is one that calls for discrimination against same-sex couples due to “religious liberty”:

Organizations should have the right to set their own standards for membership and the right to maintain in their policies those aspects that support their fundamental and legal beliefs. Private individuals and organizations should have their religious liberties accommodated if they refuse to solemnize, celebrate, or assist in a same-sex marriage.

Under education, the current platform states;

We believe that K-12 public school teachers should not initiate discussion, teach lessons, or provide resources to students on the topic of family structure, human sexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgenderism. Instead, we should require that K-12 public school teachers teach about sexual 10 abstinence, that premarital sex and extramarital sex is wrong, and that the use of contraceptives is not safe sex.

Under Defend the Definition of Marriage, the platform states:

We believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and call on the Minnesota State Legislature to repeal its new laws to the contrary. We hold that the U.S. Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to this effect. We oppose civil unions or their legal equivalents between same-sex couples and, therefore, domestic partner benefits should not be publicly funded.

The MN GOP platform still calls for a ban on “open homosexuals” in the military:
“We should maintain the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the 1993 law banning open homosexuals from serving in the military.”

Here’s the full Standing Platform of the Republican Party of Minnesota:

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