Calling anti-gay language in the state Republican Party Platform “extremist” and “foolish,” the Dallas chapter of Log Cabin Republicans has issued a statement asking the party’s candidates and elected officials to publicly repudiate those portions of the document, according to a report in the Advocate.

The state party recently unveiled its platform containing language calling for the criminalization of sodomy and referring to homosexuality in draconian terms.  ”"We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases,” the document states.

A statement by the Dallas group concluded:

The party platform is controlled by a handful of party activists. We call on Republicans at all levels to publicly repudiate many of the extremist positions taken in the Texas Party Platform. It is time for Republican office holders to stop pointing fingers while claiming to have ‘never read the state platform’ and clearly state their agreement or disagreement with such foolish language. 

We are happy this language is receiving wide exposure since we are certain it cannot survive the light of scrutiny. That said, we also believe the stakes are too high and Log Cabin Republicans is committed to working toward Republican victory despite the language in the platform.