Democratic Platform Includes Marriage Equality

On Tuesday night, Democrats approved a party platform that endorses marriage equality with exemptions for religious entities: “We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.”

Since President Obama expressed his support for marriage equality in May, Democratic leaders have increasingly shared these views and pushed for same-sex marriages to be incorporated in the party’s platform. Opening the Democratic National Convention (DNC) Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama stated in her speech, “[Barack] wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.”

The Republican Party concluded its convention Friday and affirms in its platform, “the rights of states and the federal government not to recognize same-sex marriage. It backs a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” reports the Washington Post. There was no mention of equal rights for LGBT individuals at the RNC, save for Mike Huckabee’s “derisive reference to President Obama’s support for same-sex marriage,” states New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Frank Bruni.

In addition to marriage equality, the Democratic platform also supports higher taxes on wealthier Americans, campaign finance reform, and abortion rights. The DNC will close Thursday evening.

While we are disappointed that equality for LGBT people was split down party lines at the convention stage of this election year, PFLAG, as a strictly nonpartisan organization, continues to work with representatives from all political parties to ensure that equality for our LGBT loved ones is not only furthered, but viewed as a basic right, not as a divisive partisan issue. As PFLAG members continue to change hearts and minds, creating a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity, we look forward to all political parties embracing equality.

Take Action: We are pleased to see a major political party endorse same-sex marriage for the first time in the U.S., though we maintain that equality and love should not be dictated by partisan lines. Click here to let your elected official know why you believe in marriage equality.