American Unity Fund to Continue Campaign to Reform National Republican Party Platform on Marriage

Inspired by the Coalition of Voters Across the Country Calling For Reforms to the Republican Platform to More Fully Reflect Conservative Principles

Washington, D.C. - October 20, 2015- American Unity Fund, the 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the cause of freedom for LGBT Americans, announced it will continue the effort to reform the national Republican Party platform on marriage originally launched by Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry. The $1 million Platform Reform campaign aims to strike five different anti-gay sections of the Republican Party platform and replace them with more inclusive and welcoming language to reflect the differing views on marriage within the Party.  

Tyler Deaton, Senior Advisor at American Unity Fund, was a founding member of the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, and helped launch the Platform Reform campaign. "I am pleased that we can build on the momentum this campaign has built over the past year. It is crucial that the Platform Reform campaign continue in order to engage the Republican Party to coalesce around conservative core values such as freedom, family and limited government and to agree that divisive, anti-gay language is not consistent with these beliefs."

Freedom to Marry, which introduced the Young Conservatives campaign in 2012, will cease operations after having achieved its goal to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. The new American Unity Fund Platform Reform campaign will focus on recruiting state delegates and working with state Republican Party leadership to ensure that the 2016 platform will better represent the diverse views on marriage and amplify the many voices around the country who are in agreement that the GOP platform does not fully reflect conservative beliefs.

"I couldn't be more thrilled that we will be sponsoring the Platform Reform campaign," said Margaret Hoover, President of American Unity Fund. "The values of smaller government, individual liberty and strong, stable families coincide with the fundamental right for every American to be free to marry the person they love. As conservatives, we can respect differing views on marriage."

Jerri Ann Henry will continue in the role of campaign manager, having seen, in Young Conservatives' site visits, the groundswell of support from conservatives in many states including New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada - states crucial in the presidential nominating process. "The reception we received over this past year has been incredible.  While traveling around the country meeting with Republican leaders, we heard the call loud and clear from grassroots advocates that there is a desire to reform the platform and build a stronger, more inclusive party that focuses on economic freedom, national security, and a commitment to strong families.  It is time for a more honest platform that reflects conservative ideals such as the Golden Rule - to treat others as we would want to be treated."

Jo Deutsch, Federal Director at Freedom to Marry, led in founding the Young Conservatives campaign and has been a valuable advisor to the effort. "I am thrilled to see the work we started over a year ago to reform the platform continue into the future. Even before the historic Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex couples the right to marry the person they love, national sentiment had shifted rapidly, and many Republicans around the nation made it clear they support the freedom to marry. Now that all couples are protected under the law, reforming the Republican Party's platform is the logical next step to reflect freedom and equality for all."