So far this Congress, anti-LGBT Republicans have introduced at least ten major anti-gay bills, resolutions, and amendments in the U.S. House of Representatives. While 144 Members of Congress have sponsored or co-sponsored at least one of the proposals, seven signed on to five or more of the pro-discrimination measures, a ThinkProgress analysis reveals.

The most anti-gay member of Congress has been freshman Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS). As the author of his state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and civil unions, during his previous tenure as a state senator, his anti-gay fervor in Washington is not unexpected. In his first 18 months, he has authored an amendment to ban a directive that allows military chaplains to voluntarily solemnize same-sex unions, an amendment to “prohibit the use of funds to be used in contravention of the Defense of Marriage Act,” and a bill to ban the use of military facilities for any same-sex unions. He also co-sponsored three measures to criticize the Obama administration for not defending the Defense of Marriage Act, to direct the Speaker of the House to defend the law instead, and to delay implementation of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal.

Six other House Republicans have each put their name on at least five anti-gay proposals, putting them just behind Huelskamp:

• Rep. W. Todd Akin (R-MO), a sixth-term Congressman who warned in 2006 that “anybody who knows something about the history of the human race knows that there is no civilization which has condoned homosexual marriage widely and openly that has long survived.”
• Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), a fifteenth-term Congressman who is retiring at the end of 2012 and who has previously opined that “Marriage between a man and a woman has been the foundation of human civilization for thousands of years all around the world.”
• Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), a fifth-term Congressman who has cited God as his reason for supporting an anti-gay constitutional amendment and who said in May “I don’t like the secularism that’s occurring in this country one bit and I think it is incumbent upon those of us [that] stand strong, to stand very strong, in regard to that and say ‘look, [my wife] and I believe that marriage is a sacrament.’”
• Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), a first-term Congresswoman who was spokeswoman for the anti-gay constitutional amendment effort in Missouri and has compared same-sex marriage to pedophilia and letting three-year-olds drive cars.
• Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), a third-term Republican who came under fire for racially insensitive comments that associating with President Obama was like “touching a tar-baby.”
• Rep. Donald A. Manzullo (R-IL), a tenth-term Congressman who recently lost renomination after reportedly telling House Republican Leader Eric Cantor (VA) that the devout Jew was not “saved.”

Fourteen more House Republicans sponsored or co-sponsored at least four of the proposals. Just one Democrat co-sponsored any of the anti-gay measures — Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC), who co-sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment to anti-gay marriage. The other 143 anti-gay activists were all Republicans.

The House Republican leadership has also committed $1.5 million in taxpayer funds to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. While Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) has downplayed his party’s focus on social issues, preferring to talk about jobs, it’s clear where he and his caucus are really focused.

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The Republican Party of Texas has put forth a platform rife with conservative atrocities, and there is no shortage of animus-driven anti-gay planks. It affirms that “the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society” and demands that “homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable ‘alternative’ lifestyle.” The platform strongly opposes not only marriage equality, but also the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would “coerce religion business owners and employees to violate their beliefs and principles by affirming what they consider to be sinful and sexually immoral behavior.” Here is a sampling of the various anti-gay provisions:

HOMOSEXUALITY: We affirm that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle, in public policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally, we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction or belief in traditional values.

EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT (ENDA): We oppose this act through which the federal government would coerce religious business owners and employees to violate their own beliefs and principles by affirming what they consider to be sinful and sexually immoral behavior.

FAMILY AND DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE: We support the definition of marriage as a God-ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural man and a natural woman, which is the foundational unit of a healthy society, and we oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists.

It’s worth noting that the choice to emphasize “natural man” and “natural woman” is likely an attack on transgender people. In Texas, court decisions have created a patchwork of inconsistent laws, such that in some counties people who are trans can marry people of the opposite gender, but in others they can only marry people of the same gender (because the state only recognizes the sex identifier on their birth certificate). Last year, Texas Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to advance a bill that would have prevented the state from recognizing trans people’s identities when it comes to the right to marry. Clearly, “natural man” and “natural women” reflect this lingering anti-trans bias.

Last year, the Williams Institute used data from the U.S. Census to estimate that Texas has 46,401 same-sex households, and 20 percent of them — over 9,000 couples — are raising children. According to the state’s GOP, none of them are “families” and none of them deserve any protection under the law.

Today, Cyndi Lauper launched the Forty To None Project to address the inordinately high rate of homelessness among LGBT youth. Studies estimate that there are more than 1.6 million homeless kids between the ages of 12 and 17, and as many as 40 percent of that group identify as LGBT. This is largely due to the family rejection or abuse they experience when they come out as gay, bi, or trans. Lauper hopes to educate the public to help reduce the rejection and ensure these young people’s futures:

Homelessness knows nothing of age or race or gender. It can happen to anybody. But when statistics show that as many as 40% of the nation’s homeless youth are gay or transgender, compared to 3-5% of the overall youth population, we have to acknowledge that we’re facing a crisis. The disparity suggests that gay and transgender youth stand a much higher chance of becoming homeless because of abuse, neglect and familial rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity that drive them to the streets.The kids on the Christopher Street Pier that day, and the other gay and transgender youth living on the streets who make up the 40% have done nothing wrong, other than being born the way they were supposed to be.  And because of who they are, these kids have been forced to leave their homes, subjected to abuse or worse.[...]

In our first five years, Forty to None will work to drive down the number of gay and transgender youth on the streets through a campaign that includes: education and awareness to raise the visibility of these young people and the direct service providers who work with them; advocacy at the state and federal levels; strengthening the network of services, advocates, community leaders and others working on the issue; training service providers to be more inclusive and understanding of the issues specifically affecting these kids; and empowering homeless gay and transgender youth themselves with valuable resources and information.

Watch a PSA for the new campaign: