The Democratic party is following the example of its leader, President Obama, and is about to endorse same-sex marriage as part of its party platform. Since Obama in May became the first sitting president to declare that gays and lesbians should be able to marry, he put the issue squarely on the national agenda, prompting debate and soul searching across the country, from suburban households to the pulpit of the black church.
According to the New York Times, Democrats held a platform-drafting meeting over the weekend in Minneapolis and approved the first step to amend their platform, placing the amendment on track for adoption. In two weeks, the entire platform committee will vote at a meeting scheduled in Detroit. Then, if approved as expected, it would go before convention delegates in Charlotte, N.C., for final passage in early September.According to Democrats who were briefed on the vote in Minneapolis, there was no objection when the issue came up. Though the language that was voted on could still be revised, party officials do not anticipate any major obstacles going forward.Not only did the platform committee approve the same-sex marriage language, they also reiterated the party’s disapproval of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing legal same-sex marriages. The 2008 platform had a similar section.The Democrats would become the first major party to embrace same-sex marriage. But as historic as the platform would be, the president’s position makes it a bit less controversial.
Gay rights supporters praised the Democratic Party’s move.
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