Young Conservatives denounce RNC resolution against the freedom to marry

Today, the Republican National Committee begins its spring meeting today to formulate its platform and discuss the direction of the party. Earlier this week, a draft resolution was released by some RNC members that includes language excluding same-sex couples from marriage.

The leadership committee for Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, a campaign to amplify and grow support for the freedom to marry among young conservatives across the United States, published a letter this morning denouncing the draft of the resolution and urging party leaders to align with the majority of Americans who support the inclusion of gay and lesbian Americans in the freedom to marry.

The full letter can be read here. A key portion reads:

As young conservatives, we call on the members of the Republican National Committee to dismiss this resolution out of hand and save the Party from further marginalization. Instead, we should look to the leadership of elected leaders like Senators Portman and Kirk and Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Hanna who are already leading the way to a stronger and more consistent conservative movement. ... Republicans must take a new approach. We can't allow government discrimination of our fellow gay and lesbian citizens. We can't hypocritcally support this intrusion of Big Government into the private and peaceful lives of our family members, friends, and neighbors.

The letter goes on to cite a recent ABC poll demonstrating that 52% of Republicans and GOP-leaning indepdendents under the age of 50 support ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. It also urges the party to follow the recommendation of the RNC-driven "Growth and Opportunity Project" report, which suggested that the party move forward with positions more inclusive of gay and lesbian Americans.

Learn more about Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, and read the entire letter to the RNC HERE.