Indiana GOP struggles with family, marriage plank

June 07--A convention floor fight over marriage platform language is expected during Saturday's Indiana Republican Party Convention, and attorney Jim Bopp -- who has a Terre Haute law firm -- will be there advocating to keep current language intact.

The proposed new platform removes language labeling strong families as ones that are "based on marriage between a man and a woman."

In fact, the proposed change removes any reference to marriage, Bopp said in an interview Wednesday. He had planned to be in Fort Lauderdale Saturday to meet with a client, but now, he will be in Evansville at the state convention.

The proposed changes have raised concerns among social conservatives.

A group called the Republican Victory Committee launched Monday and "the purpose of the group is to defend the pro-marriage plank that is in the [current] Republican platform," said Bopp, who is the group's general counsel and treasurer.

The proposed new wording supports "traditional families with a mother and father, blended families, grandparents, guardians, single parents and all loving adults who successfully raise and nurture children to reach their full potential every day."

Bopp says the new language "is about people living together, a mother and father. It's not about marriage."

The proposed changes "leaked" last week, he said. The state party approves a platform every two years.

Those who have joined the Republican Victory Committee efforts to oppose the changes include two congressmen, state attorney general Curtis Hill, Indiana House speaker Brian Bosma, Indiana senate majority floor leader-elect Mark Messmer and many Republican elected officials, including county chairs.

The group's website is Republicanvictorycommittee.com

"What we are asking is that the convention keep the current language that endorses marriage," Bopp said. Current language "recognizes there are diverse families that are successful in raising children, which we support."

Asked if diverse families include gay couples, Bopp said, "Of course," even though it is not specified in the current language. "It included gay couples in 2014 and 2016 ... because it says, loving adults."

Language placed in the platform in 2014 "specifically supports loving adults, and that was intended to include gay couples, absolutely," Bopp said.

The Republican Victory Committee has distributed emails and posted a video of Curtis Hill stating he supports the current language. "We continue to build support for keeping the current language," said Bopp, who now lives in and works out of Zionsville but returns to the Bopp Law Firm in downtown Terre Haute once a week.

State Republican Party chairman Kyle Hupfer is recommending that delegates vote on the matter, choosing between the current language or new language. "This is a recommendation he is making and will ultimately need to be approved by the [state party's] Rules & Resolutions Committees," said Pete Seat, the Indiana GOP's executive director of strategic communications, in an email.

According to Bopp,"We will have an up/down vote, either or, on these two options."

Bopp argues the changes are "really not an issue over gay marriage -- it's an issue over marriage at all."

He's read reports in which some gay rights advocates want the language to be limited to, "We support strong families." He believes the goal "is to have the government support any arrangement, whatever it may be ... the first step is to eliminate marriage, the next step to eliminate any standards at all."

Bopp believes it's important to include language labeling strong families as "based on marriage between a man and a woman ... because this is the ideal arrangement. It is the arrangement most likely to result in a successful outcome in terms of raising children."

He added, "It's not that other arrangements cannot be successful, because they can," he said. But it can be difficult, especially in single-parent households.

"It's talking about the ideal -- what is the most likely to result in a successful outcome," he said.

It's not a religious-based conviction, he said. "It's sociological based," Bopp said. "Obviously, there are religions that have a view of that ... As far as public policy is concerned, it shouldn't be based on particular religious beliefs. But what is the best public policy? And the scientific literature is absolutely overwhelming, that a family unit is most likely to be successful in raising children if it is done by a married man and a woman."

While he's not a state convention delegate, "I'm going to be supporting the effort" to maintain current language, he said. There are 1,400 delegates.

He's optimistic that current language will be maintained.

He said the issue isn't about marriage between a man and woman versus marriage involving a gay couple. "It is about marriage at all being an ingredient for a strong family," Bopp said.

The proposed language "excludes a majority of households in Indiana, which are made up of married couples. We have now excluded them from our platform by deleting marriage."

Among those supporting the Republican Victory Committee efforts to keep existing language are state Rep. Bruce Borders and state Rep. Bob Heaton, as well as Bill Springer, Sullivan County Republican chairman, and Tim Yocum, Vermillion County Republican chairman, according to the group's website.

In a statement, Kyle Hupfer, Republican GOP chairman, stated that drafting the platform was a months-long process that included statewide hearings and committee meetings, "but the final decision makers are the delegates at the convention. They will decide how the final party platform reads."

"During the process we heard from folks who are good Republicans and feel they are raising strong families, but their family structure is not centered on a marriage between a man and a woman. At the same time, we heard that it was critical to continue to show support for marriage between a man and a woman.

"The language that was put forth by the Platform Committee attempted to hit both of those points."

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue.

___

(c)2018 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.)

Visit The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) at tribstar.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.