Starting in 2012, the group backed ballot measures in four different states to strike antigay language from party platforms. Now, the group has more than 60 members with one task: convince state Republicans—especially national delegates—that opposing gay marriage is a losing issue.
The movement against antigay language in state party platforms has already seen some success in Nevada, New Mexico, and Indiana—all states with Republican governors—along with California and Oregon. But the true coup d’etat for the group would be to strike antigay language from the national party’s platform ahead of the 2016 Republican National Convention.
“It just defies common sense that the national platform would be so monolithic.” Tyler Deaton, the campaign manager for Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, told National Journal.
Still, Deaton admits his group doesn’t expect to see a sea change before the 2016 presidential election. “We don’t think that in 2016 the Republican Party is going to endorse the freedom to marry,” he said. “We can get the Republican Party to agree to disagree.”
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