Anaheim, Ca. & Washington, D.C. — On Sunday September 20, the California Republican Party in a near-unanimous vote removed anti-gay communications from its platform and added language in support of the LGBT community. This means that gay republican organizations such as the Log Cabin Republicans can now feel inclusive in the California GOP.

In the past, the California Republican Party has included language in its platform which blatantly discriminates against LGBT people.

The California party opposed any special rights based on sexual or behavioral preferences.

Their platform also believed that educational institutions should not be used to teach homosexuality as an acceptable alternative “lifestyle.”

These sentiments are in direct conflict with the gay conservative organization known as the Log Cabin Republicans whose mission is to “support equality for all, free markets, individual liberty, limited government and a strong national defense.”

The Log Cabin Republicans released a statement through their website applauding the California Republicans and their vote to eradicate anti-gay sentiments in their platform to be more inclusive.

“We built a strong, broad-based conservative coalition to bring about this change which received nearly unanimous support of the delegates,” Log Cabin Republicans of California Chairman John Musella stated. “We’re helping to build a platform and a Republican Party where all Californians are welcome.”

National Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans, Gregory T. Angelo added, “Once again, the state where Log Cabin Republicans was founded continues to lead the way toward a more inclusive, winning GOP.”

Angelo goes on to say that these changes could not have been made had it not been for Chairman Musella and the Log Cabin delegates who have worked hard at previous Republican conventions to reach this milestone.

“2016 is going to be a good year!” Angelo said.