When it comes to LGBT rights, the Republican and Democratic party differ sharply.
In a nutshell, The Republic platform did not specifically use term LGBT, favors state rights, freedom of religion to exercise opposition to gay marriage, and allows parents to employ conversion/reparative therapy for their LGBT children to make them straight.  This form of “therapy” is still practiced by some therapists as well as religious camps (pray-the-gay away) although it is frowned upon by The American Psychiatric Association.

During the 2016 Democratic Convention,  Silicone Executive Peter Thiel, declared he was “proud to be gay” before a group of Log Cabin Republicans from California in the forefront.  Yet, Thiel didn’t mention what the Republican Platform stood for in terms of advancing gay rights, probably because his party wants to rescind gay rights and return to pre-2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court 5 to 4 decision legalized gay marriage nationwide:  Republicans against and Democratic in favor.

Certainly, the Family Research Council, a right-wing, right-to-life organization, believes that marriage is only between a man and a woman as stated in the official platform of the Republican party.  States Rachel Hoff, first openly gay person to serve on Repubilcan National Convention platform committee,, “our party, outside of the platform committee, is ready to move on. I think we’ve got to catch up, not just on marriage, but on a full spectrum of issues effecting LGBT community. “  However, Hoff defends her party when she attests that “plenty of Republicans, National Republican leaders, came out for equal marriage before Hilary did.”

Democratic Position on LGBT Equality

Obama didn’t support marriage equality until 2008 when he was practically forced to when Vice-President Joe Biden told a news interviewer that he was in favor of it.

On July 30, 2012, Democrats drafter same-sex marriage as part of their party’s platform.  At that convention, Freedom to Marry Founder, Evan Wolfson, favored repeal of the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as only between a man and woman) signed by President William Clinton in 1996.   Wolfson wanted DOMA replaced with the passage of Respect for Marriage Act.

At the 2012 Republican Convention in Tampa, the party denounced marriage equality and endorsed federal constitutional amendments against same-sex marriage.  The party was critical of Obama’s administration for its decision not to defend DOMA.  And wanted states to pass constitutional amendment against marriage equality.

As far back as 1980, Democrats finally added “sexual orientation” to the platform’s blanket endorsement while the Republican platform included a plank in favor of the “traditional American family.”

The Democrats at the Convention this year had a transgender speaker, Sarah McBride, reflecting the mantra that “we support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities and protections under the law.” The Obama Administration redefined sex discrimination laws to include transgender individuals.

It is obvious to me which party will try to advance LGBT rights NOW!