Republican Party (United States)

==== LGBT issues ====
Similar to the Democratic Party, the Republican position on [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]] has changed significantly over time, with continuously increasing support among both parties on the issue.<ref name="Lindberg-2022" /><ref name="Igielnik-2022">{{cite web |last1=Igielnik |first1=Ruth |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Backdrop for Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Rights: A Big Shift in Public Opinion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/same-sex-marriage-public-opinion.html |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116235133/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/same-sex-marriage-public-opinion.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Log Cabin Republicans]] is a group within the Republican Party that represents [[LGBT conservatism|LGBT conservatives]] and allies and advocates for LGBT rights and equality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://logcabin.org/about-us/ |access-date=November 29, 2020 |website=Log Cabin Republicans |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204163804/https://logcabin.org/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both Republican and Democratic politicians predominately took hostile positions on LGBT rights before the 2000s.<ref name="Lindberg-2022" />{{Failed verification|reason=The article talks about left and right leaders, not Democrats and Republicans in that paragraph.|date=March 2024}} From the early-2000s to the mid-2010s, Republicans opposed [[same-sex marriage]], while being divided on the issue of [[civil union]]s and [[domestic partnership]]s for same-sex couples.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Anne |date=March 9, 2016 |title='Religious Liberty' Has Replaced 'Gay Marriage' In GOP Talking Points |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/religious-liberty-has-replaced-gay-marriage-in-gop-talking-points/ |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=[[FiveThirtyEight]] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814020215/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/religious-liberty-has-replaced-gay-marriage-in-gop-talking-points/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 2004 election, [[George W. Bush]] campaigned prominently on a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage; many believe it helped Bush win re-election.<ref name="Lerer-2020">{{Cite news|last1=Lerer|first1=Lisa|last2=Russonello|first2=Giovanni|last3=Paz|first3=Isabella Grullón|date=June 17, 2020|title=On L.G.B.T.Q. Rights, a Gulf Between Trump and Many Republican Voters|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/us/politics/lgbtq-supreme-court-trump-republicans.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617232814/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/us/politics/lgbtq-supreme-court-trump-republicans.html |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=June 8, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/samesex-marriage-issue-key-to-some-gop-races.html|title=Same-Sex Marriage Issue Key to Some G.O.P. Races|last=Dao|first=James|date=November 4, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 25, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812004009/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/samesex-marriage-issue-key-to-some-gop-races.html|archive-date=August 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In both [[108th United States Congress|2004]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/|title=Bush calls for ban on same-sex marriages|date=February 25, 2004|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=February 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515103309/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/|archive-date=May 15, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[109th United States Congress|2006]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11442710/ns/politics/t/bush-urges-federal-marriage-amendment/|title=Bush urges federal marriage amendment|date=June 6, 2006|publisher=[[NBC News]]|access-date=February 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408104009/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11442710/ns/politics/t/bush-urges-federal-marriage-amendment/|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> President Bush, Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]], and House Majority Leader [[John Boehner]] promoted the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], a proposed constitutional amendment which would legally restrict the definition of marriage to [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]] couples.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/bush-backs-ban-in-constitution-on-gay-marriage.html|title=Bush Backs Ban in Constitution on Gay Marriage|last=Stout|first=David|date=February 24, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 17, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217202413/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/bush-backs-ban-in-constitution-on-gay-marriage.html|archive-date=December 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700830.html|title=Gay Marriage Amendment Fails in Senate|journal=The Washington Post and Times-Herald|last=Murray|first=Shailagh|date=June 8, 2006|access-date=December 17, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308131316/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700830.html|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/constitutional-amendment-on-marriage-fails|title=Constitutional Amendment on Marriage Fails|date=March 25, 2015|website=[[Fox News]]|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217202230/https://www.foxnews.com/story/constitutional-amendment-on-marriage-fails|archive-date=December 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In both attempts, the amendment failed to secure enough votes to invoke [[cloture]] and thus ultimately was never passed. As more states legalized same-sex marriage in the 2010s, Republicans increasingly supported allowing each state to decide its own marriage policy.<ref name="A Shifting Landscape">{{cite web|url=http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014.LGBT_REPORT.pdf|title=A Shifting Landscape|date=February 26, 2014 |website=Public Religion Research Institute |first1=Robert P. |last1=Jones |first2=Daniel |last2=Cox |first3=Juhem |last3=Navarro-Rivera |access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417222101/http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014.LGBT_REPORT.pdf|archive-date=April 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2014, most state GOP platforms expressed opposition to same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-platform_n_5242421|title=Anti-Gay Stance Still Enshrined In Majority Of State GOP Platforms |first=Amanda |last=Terkel|date=May 5, 2014|website=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093553/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-platform_n_5242421|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2016 [[2016 Republican National Convention|GOP Platform]] defined marriage as "natural marriage, the union of one man and one woman," and condemned the Supreme Court's [[Obergefell v. Hodges|ruling]] legalizing same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4411842/republican-platform-same-sex-marriage-abortion-guns-wall-street/|title=Read the Republican Platform on Same-Sex Marriage, Guns and Wall Street |date=July 18, 2016 |first=Will |last=Drabold |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804081049/https://time.com/4411842/republican-platform-same-sex-marriage-abortion-guns-wall-street/|archive-date=August 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gop.com/the-2016-republican-party-platform|title=The 2016 Republican Party Platform|date=July 18, 2016|website=GOP|access-date=February 1, 2020|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211220913/https://www.gop.com/the-2016-republican-party-platform/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2020 platform retained the 2016 language against same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Orr|first=Gabby|title=Republicans across the spectrum slam RNC's decision to keep 2016 platform|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/11/republicans-rnc-decision-314172|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=[[Politico]]|date=June 11, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802160921/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/11/republicans-rnc-decision-314172|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=June 11, 2020|title=Republicans Will Just Recycle Their 2016 Party Platform|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/republicans-will-just-recycle-their-2016-party-platform.html|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=[[New York (magazine)|New York Intelligencer]]|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730000020/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/republicans-will-just-recycle-their-2016-party-platform.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Epstein|first1=Reid J.|last2=Karni|first2=Annie|date=June 11, 2020|title=G.O.P. Platform, Rolled Over From 2016, Condemns the 'Current President'|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/republican-platform.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611181235/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/republican-platform.html |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=June 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Following his election as president in 2016, Donald Trump stated that he had no objection to same-sex marriage or to the Supreme Court decision in ''Obergefell v. Hodges'', but had previously promised to consider appointing a Supreme Court justice to roll back the constitutional right.<ref name="Lerer-2020" /><ref name="auto7">{{cite web|last=de Vogue|first=Ariane|title=Trump: Same-sex marriage is 'settled,' but Roe v Wade can be changed|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511223804/https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/index.html|archive-date=May 11, 2019|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=[[CNN]]|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref> In office, Trump was the first sitting Republican president to recognize [[Gay pride|LGBT Pride Month]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-recognizes-lgbtq-pride-month-first-time-n1012611|title=Trump recognizes LGBTQ pride month in tweets|website=[[NBC News]]|date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803192111/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-recognizes-lgbtq-pride-month-first-time-n1012611|archive-date=August 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, the Trump administration banned transgender individuals from service in the United States military and rolled back other protections for transgender people which had been enacted during the previous Democratic presidency.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/06/us/politics/trump-transgender-rights.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206103013/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/06/us/politics/trump-transgender-rights.html |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Trump's Rollback of Transgender Rights Extends Through Entire Government|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 6, 2019|access-date=June 9, 2020|last1=Fadulu|first1=Lola|last2=Flanagan|first2=Annie}}</ref>

The Republican Party platform previously opposed the [[Sexual orientation and the United States military|inclusion of gay people in the military]] and opposed adding sexual orientation to the list of protected classes since 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/20/news/delicate-balance-gay-vote-gay-rights-aids-emerging-divisive-issues-campaign.html|title=A Delicate Balance: The Gay Vote; Gay Rights and AIDS Emerging As Divisive Issues in Campaign|last=Schmalz|first=Jeffrey|date=August 20, 1992|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 24, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093556/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/20/news/delicate-balance-gay-vote-gay-rights-aids-emerging-divisive-issues-campaign.html|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-platform-through-the-years-shows-partys-shift-from-moderate-to-conservative/2012/08/28/09094512-ed70-11e1-b09d-07d971dee30a_story.html|title=GOP platform through the years shows party's shift from moderate to conservative|last=Fisher|first=Marc|date=August 28, 2012|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093557/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-platform-through-the-years-shows-partys-shift-from-moderate-to-conservative/2012/08/28/09094512-ed70-11e1-b09d-07d971dee30a_story.html|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/conventions/party-platform-evolution/|title=What Republicans and Democrats have disagreed on, from 1856 to today|last1=Mellnik|first1=Ted|last2=Alcantara|first2=Chris|date=July 15, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114164556/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/conventions/party-platform-evolution/|archive-date=November 14, 2017|url-status=live|last3=Uhrmacher|first3=Kevin}}</ref> The Republican Party opposed the inclusion of [[sexual preference]] in anti-discrimination statutes from 1992 to 2004.<ref name="1992 Republican Party platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25847|title=Republican Party Platforms: Republican Party Platform of 1992|website=Presidency.ucsb.edu|date=August 17, 1992|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204134646/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25847|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2008 and 2012 Republican Party platform supported anti-discrimination statutes based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin, but both platforms were silent on [[sexual orientation]] and [[gender identity]].<ref name="2012 Republican Party platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf|title=Layout 1|website=Gop.com|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730001737/http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf|archive-date=July 30, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2008 Republican Party platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=78545|title=Republican Party Platforms: 2008 Republican Party Platform|website=Presidency.ucsb.edu|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128014700/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=78545|archive-date=January 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2016 platform was opposed to sex discrimination statutes that included the phrase "sexual orientation".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gop.com/|title=Republican Party Platform|website=GOP|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=November 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123022603/https://gop.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/static/home/data/platform.pdf|title=Republican Platform 2016|date=2016|website=GOP.com|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=May 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503220642/https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/static/home/data/platform.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The same 2016 platform rejected ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges]]'', and was also used for the party's 2020 and 2024 campaigns.<ref name="Zezima Weigel 2016 d265">{{cite news | last1=Zezima | first1=Katie | last2=Weigel | first2=David | title=While Trump stays out of it, GOP platform tacks to the right on gay rights | newspaper=Washington Post | date=2016-07-13 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/while-trump-stays-out-of-it-gop-platform-tacks-to-the-right-on-gay-rights/2016/07/13/969165ca-490d-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html | access-date=2024-01-23}}</ref><ref name="Karson Cunningham 2020 v198">{{cite web | last1=Karson | first1=Kendall | last2=Cunningham | first2=Meg | title=RNC moves to keep 2016 platform intact through 2024, controversies and all | website=ABC News | date=2020-06-12 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rnc-moves-2016-platform-intact-2024-controversies/story?id=71218640 | access-date=2024-01-23}}</ref> In the early 2020s, numerous Republican-led states [[2020s anti-LGBT movement in the United States|proposed or passed laws]] limiting or banning [[Transgender health care|transgender care]] for minors, [[Drag panic|public performances of drag shows]], and teaching schoolchildren about LGBT topics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Astor |first1=Maggie |title=G.O.P. State Lawmakers Push a Growing Wave of Anti-Transgender Bills |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 25, 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/us/politics/transgender-laws-republicans.html |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615112638/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/us/politics/transgender-laws-republicans.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 6, 2021, RNC Chair [[Ronna McDaniel]] announced the creation of the "RNC Pride Coalition", in partnership with the [[Log Cabin Republicans]], to promote outreach to LGBTQ voters.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singman|first=Brooke|date=November 8, 2021|title=RNC announces 'Pride Coalition,' partnership with Log Cabin Republicans ahead of midterms|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rnc-announces-pride-coalition-partnership-with-log-cabin-republicans-ahead-of-midterms|access-date=November 18, 2021|website=[[Fox News]]|language=en-US|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115120520/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rnc-announces-pride-coalition-partnership-with-log-cabin-republicans-ahead-of-midterms|url-status=live}}</ref> However, after the announcement, McDaniel apologized for not having communicated the announcement in advance and emphasized that the new outreach program does not alter the GOP Platform, last adopted in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 17, 2021|title=GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel apologizes for poor communication regarding gay outreach|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/11/republican-chairwoman-ronna-mcdaniel-apologizes-for-poor-communication-regarding-gay-outreach-initiative/|access-date=November 18, 2021|website=Metro Weekly|language=en-US|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118215808/https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/11/republican-chairwoman-ronna-mcdaniel-apologizes-for-poor-communication-regarding-gay-outreach-initiative/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of 2023, a majority of Republican voters support [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]].<ref name="Lindberg-2022">{{Cite web |last=Lindberg |first=Tim |date=August 2, 2022 |title=Congress is considering making same-sex marriage federal law – a political scientist explains how this issue became less polarized over time |url=https://theconversation.com/congress-is-considering-making-same-sex-marriage-federal-law-a-political-scientist-explains-how-this-issue-became-less-polarized-over-time-187509 |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Kansas Reflector |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823203344/http://theconversation.com/congress-is-considering-making-same-sex-marriage-federal-law-a-political-scientist-explains-how-this-issue-became-less-polarized-over-time-187509 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Majority of Americans Believe Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage Should be Guaranteed Rights {{!}} Grinnell College |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/poll/guaranteed-rights |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=[[Grinnell College]] |quote=Solid majorities across both parties agree that... marrying someone of the same sex...are rights that should be guaranteed to all citizens... |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305231449/https://www.grinnell.edu/poll/guaranteed-rights |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohn |first=Nate |author-link=Nate Cohn |date=August 10, 2023 |title=It's Not Reagan's Party Anymore |language=en |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/upshot/reagan-trump-gop-stool.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |quote=It’s not Mr. Reagan’s party anymore. Today, a majority of Republicans oppose many of the positions that defined the party as recently as a decade ago, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released last week. Only around one-third of Republican voters... [oppose]... same-sex marriage... |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202100640/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/upshot/reagan-trump-gop-stool.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'', as of 2022, Republican voters are consistently more open to same-sex marriage than their representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/whats-behind-senate-republicans-hesitancy-toward-same-sex-marriage/|first1=Monica|last1=Potts|title=What's Behind Senate Republicans' Hesitancy Toward Same-Sex Marriage?|website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|date=August 3, 2022|access-date=August 24, 2022|archive-date=August 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824063615/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/whats-behind-senate-republicans-hesitancy-toward-same-sex-marriage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-07-28/same-sex-marriage-divides-elected-republicans-from-their-supporters|date=July 28, 2022|access-date=August 24, 2022|title=The GOP's Same-Sex Marriage Divide|first1=Lauren|last1=Camera|website=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808203940/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-07-28/same-sex-marriage-divides-elected-republicans-from-their-supporters|url-status=live}}</ref>