The Texas Republican Party is one of the largest and most influential state parties in the nation. But it is also among the most radical. Successful candidates nominated by the Texas GOP have implemented a near-total abortion ban, ordered investigations of the parents of trans youth, and filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 presidential election. 

Over the weekend thousands of Texas Republicans descended on Houston, where the Texas GOP held its annual convention. During the gathering, the party produced its platform. The new platform makes clear that the Texas Republican Party intends to pursue an even more extreme agenda. Among the platform's declarations:

1. "Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice."

2. "We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States."

3. "We urge that the Voting Rights Act of 1965, codified and updated in 1973, be repealed and not reauthorized."

4. "[T]he federal government has impaired our right of local self-government… Texas retains the right to secede from the United States, and the Texas Legislature should be called upon to pass a referendum consistent thereto."

5. "Texas students should learn…  life begins at fertilization."

6. "[A]ll gun control is a violation of the Second Amendment and our God given rights."

The platform also condemns Senator Cornyn and other Senate Republicans working with Democrats on a package of modest gun safety measures. Less than a month ago, 21 people, including 19 children, were murdered during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The vote on the platform still needs to be "tallied and certified," but it's just a formality. The delegates already rejected efforts to tone down the most controversial policy planks. And "party chairman James Wesolek said planks presented to delegates are generally accepted." 

Further, the Texas GOP rejected an application from the Log Cabin Republicans of Texas, a group representing LGBTQ conservatives, to have a booth in the convention hall. It was a decision made by party leadership. "Texas Republican Party Chair Matt Rinaldi was the deciding vote denying the application," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. "I think it’s inappropriate given the state of our nation right now for us to play sexual identity politics," Rinaldi said in defense of his vote. 

While the Texas Republican Party embraces an exclusionary, extremist agenda, it enjoys support from decidedly mainstream corporations — including those that claim to champion LGBTQ rights. 

Pepsi, for example, was an official sponsor of the 2022 Texas Republican Party convention, according to signage on display at the event.

Corporate sponsorship of the convention costs between $5,000 and $150,000. Pepsi also donated $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party on August 5, 2021, according to the Texas Ethics Commission.

Meanwhile, Pepsi, through its Bubly brand of sparkling water, recently produced a short film "that showcases an LGBTQ+ nightlife space and the chosen families that find each other there." In announcing the film, PepsiCo stressed the importance of "safe spaces where people can come together as their authentic selves without the fear of being exposed to discrimination or harassment." The company says it "has supported the LGBTQ+ community 365 days a year."

PepsiCo @PepsiCo

We’re at our best when we can bring our whole selves to work. Happy #Pride!

June 3rd 2022

6 Retweets34 Likes

In 2020, PepsiCo's CEO, Ramon Laguarta, stated that the company was working to "dismantle the systemic racial barriers that for generations have blocked social and economic progress for Black people in this country." Laguarta said he understood "the urgent need for racial and social justice in this nation, and I am committed to using my position as CEO to lead this change." Presumably, this does not include repealing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed to combat discrimination against Black voters at the polls. 

Popular Information first reported on Pepsi's donation to the Texas Republican Party after Texas imposed its abortion ban last year. Pepsi defended its financial support of the Texas Republican Party and tried to claim the donation, dated August 2021, was actually from summer 2020:

During presidential election years, PepsiCo has typically made donations supporting both the Democratic and Republican conventions in several states. In the summer of 2020, we donated to both the Democratic and Republican parties in Texas to support those state conventions. The check to the Republican party was not processed until August 2021. As a result, the donation was recorded then and disclosed in a recent filing.

The point of this hair-splitting on timing was to suggest that Pepsi donated to the Texas Republican Party before state Republicans banned nearly all abortion in May 2021. As #BoycottPepsi trended, the company wanted to give the (false) impression that it would not donate to the Texas Republican Party anymore.

Popular Information contacted Pepsi about its sponsorship of the 2022 Texas GOP convention and asked if Pepsi planned on supporting the Texas GOP in the future. The company did not respond. 

Chevron donates $30,000 to the Texas GOP, sponsors 2022 convention

Chevron was also a sponsor of the 2022 Texas Republican Party convention, appearing at the top center of event signage.

Chevron also donated $30,000 to the Texas GOP in March and April of 2020.

While the convention excluded the state’s largest conservative LGBTQ group and derided LGBTQ people as “abnormal,” Chevron touts its “alliance and support of the LGBTQ+ community.” It posted a five-minute video on YouTube promoting its support of LGBTQ employees.

Chevron did not respond to a request for comment.

Other corporations backing the Texas Republican Party

Other major corporations did not sponsor the 2022 convention but have supported the Texas GOP over the last two years.

Verizon: $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party

Verizon donated $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party on September 3, 2020. 

The Texas GOP's new platform states: "We oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity." Verizon has publicly validated transgender identity, pitching its service as a way for trans people to "stay connected."

Verizon @Verizon

When the pandemic hit, we all felt isolated. For Dayley, a transitioning individual, the feeling was amplified. She stayed connected with others in her community using the power of the network. We’re stronger when we’re connected. America’s most reliable network. #Verizon #Pride

June 27th 2021

6 Retweets17 Likes

In August 2020, Verizon also tweeted that "racial justice" should be "the core, the bottom line, and the public face of corporate America."

Verizon did not respond to a request for comment.

Charter Communications: $55,000 to the Texas Republican Party

Charter Communications, which offers internet and cable TV service under the brand name Spectrum, has donated $55,000 to the Texas Republican Party since 2020, including a $20,000 donation on January 31, 2022. 

On Twitter, however, Charter Communications celebrates LGBTQ people.

Charter News @CharterNewsroom

Spectrum On Demand Highlights Pride Month With LGBTQ-Themed Films, Including 'Dallas Buyers Club,' 'Carol,' 'Moonlight,' and 'Boy Erased,' Beginning June 1. Learn More: bit.ly/38zHprU

May 31st 2022

1 Retweet11 Likes

Charter Communications did not respond to a request for comment.

Anheuser-Busch: $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party

Anheuser-Busch donated $15,000 to the Texas Republican Party on April 7, 2020. 

"Led by Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch has a strong track record of industry leadership in supporting the LGBTQ+ community," the company states on its corporate website. It has promoted a new partnership with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce on Twitter.

AB InBev @abinbev

#CheersToPride in the U.S., where @budlight has joined forces with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce @NGLCC to support local LGBTQ+ businesses impacted by COVID-19.​ For more: budlight.com/nglcc/​ #FutureWithMoreCheers

June 2nd 2022

3 Retweets4 Likes

Anheuser-Busch also claims to have "a strong foundation when it comes to addressing issues of inequality and fighting systemic racism by promoting fundamental civil rights." The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which the Texas Republican Party wants to repeal, is a core law that protects fundamental civil rights. 

Anheuser-Busch did not respond to a request for comment.

The rest

Other corporations that have supported the Texas Republican Party since 2020 include Altria ($90,000) Juul Labs ($10,000), Microsoft ($5,000), and NuStar Logistics ($100,000). None of these companies responded to a request for comment.