Tampa, Florida (CNN) - The Republican Party's platform committee on Tuesday rejected a measure that would have expressed formal support for same-sex civil unions.
The platform committee, tasked with drafting the party's official list of principles and positions on a range of issues, is meeting in Tampa ahead of next week's GOP Convention.
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Rhode Island delegate Barbara Fenton proposed the amendment. She said that as a 31-year-old, the party's longtime opposition to legal rights for same-sex couples is increasingly out-of-step with the beliefs of her friends and peers.
"For my own generation, a lot of times homosexuality isn't the biggest deal in the world anymore, and that's okay," Fenton told the 110-member committee and its chairman, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Her proposal was seconded by a handful of people in the room - but two leading conservatives on the platform committee, Indiana's Jim Bopp and Louisiana's Tony Perkins, sternly argued against it.
Bopp, an adviser to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, called civil unions "counterfeit marriage."
Perkins, the head of the conservative Family Research Council, made a forceful argument for "traditional marriage," calling it a cornerstone of a healthy society.
"This would move the party away immensely for the position this party has held," Perkins said.
The proposal died in a voice vote, meaning the Republican Party will continue to formally oppose anything other than marriage between one man and one woman.
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Hate: it's what's for dinner.
So what, why is this 'news'?
That's right. Just keep burying your head in the sand Republicans. And sow more seeds of hatred as you sink.
And to think I voted for this party, before their insanity took over.
Once again, the Republican Party has decided that there is no middle ground on issues...this mindset has kept us in the horrible social and economical stalemate. This country was founded on the ideal of cooperation and finding middle ground so we can move forward. Obviously the Republicans don't want progress, they just want to win elections!
keep it up repos alienate as many people as you can. You now have women in an uproar over rape again. Good job don't stop you will shoot your selves in the foot and loose this election and the dems won't have to do a thing. Oh yeah about mitts taxes?
And the GOP hatred of Americans continues. Can't wait to hear how they cry out for the support of individual liberty and freedom at their convention.
No to civil unions? Welcome to the 1980s. We have moved on from the GOP's obstruction of freedom and justice, and civil unions are no longer on the table. Those of us who believe in freedom and equality know only civil marriage for gays and lesbians is acceptable.
We have left and will continue to leave the GOPosaurs behind. They no longer matter on this issue.
Once again- the GOP wants a say in your personal life while saying they want less government. You can't have it both ways. If the government can say who you can marry, who you can sleep with and what to do with your body- they have taken control of your life. What is more important- your personal freedom or money?
American Taliban: The GOP risks becoming Sharia Party
the GOP new "Moral America" laws banning tobacco, alcoholic beverages, red meat, firearms, profanity, non-Christian religions, no women – unless you're married – no foul language,
Today's top headlines:
-The sky is blue
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I wonder how many platform debates of an issue in the Democrat national convention will get reported on. Will the Media report on the move to place an anti-abortion plank on the Platform be reported on? My guess is no, the reason ... the media does not want to attempt to embaress Obama
Gay Republicans will you be smart enough to vote your own self interests?
Another stike for discrimination. A specific group of people are not allowed to get a license offered by a state that is available to every other citizen.
I dunno guys- this makes for more jobs than Canadian pipeline scams. Oh, yeah- you all love jobs, er, I mean Abortion legislation.
The civil union is the best compromise for this situation. Gays hate being judged, but then want to associate themselves with a practice and tradition that excludes them, so they should accept something other than biblical marriage. Those who support the nuclear family, though, need to acknowledge this is a diverse community.
im a black democraft and i believe marriage should be between one (1) man and(1) women, but everyone has to make
there on decision, i should not be allow to make this decision for you.
No to civil unions, no to abortion, no to immigrants... what century is this party from? They are some of the least evolved humans on the planet. Oh wait... I think they said no to evolution too. That explains it.
Funny how the GOP calls our President divisive while they keep dividing people by race, gender, sexual orientation, income and more recently age.
And this is a surprise how? Actually, I am surprised that it got as far as it did.
Good Attempt for this young Republican to "modernize" the platform of the party. I hope she didn't have high expectations knowing the evangelicals would never agree to it. Kind of ironic, I thought the Koch Brothers who are pro gay marriage (look it up people) could have changed the republican party tune on that topic with all the money they donate.
wow have Republicans ever considered that the abortion rate for same sex couples would be practically ZERO?? They might want to consider that before they close the whole door on this subject.
Typical Republican hypocrisy. They want the government out of our lives unless it involves what's going on in a woman's vagina. They just weird me out sometimes.
Maybe the Republicans will outlaw microwaves because since we got microwaves, women don't have to use stoves. And since they have all of this free time on their hands they can get jobs and when they get jobs they talk back at their husbands. And when they talk back to their husbands we feel bad. So outlaw microwaves and put women back into the kitchen and they'll stop backtalking to their husbands, good old GOP.
GOP big tent in action. No women, no same sex, no minorities, no immigrants, no non-wealthy are welcomed. Very regressive.
"Civil unions are counterfeit marriage" claims a Romney advisor. I have been with my partner for 26 years, civil unioned since the day we were "allowed" to be. How many wives has Newt had? How many husbands did Elizabeth Taylor have? The list goes on and on. If anything, there are many hetero marriages that need to be called out as counterfeit.