It’s a slow road to equality, even within the “big tent” Democratic party.
Last week the Democratic Party unveiled their rough draft party platform, which lacked essentially lavender language, like almost any mention of gay folk – period.
ABC News journo Jake Tapper points out that in 2004, the Democrats included, “We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families” in its section on marriage, but failed to include queers in this years round up, opting for the less explicit, “We support the full inclusion of all families in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections.”
Fishy – no queers and “support,” rather than “seek.”
The platform won’t be finalized until later this month, but gay group the National Stonewall Democrats, who have been working closely with the party, are already trying to make appropriate edits. From Mr. Tapper:
How about we take this to the next level?
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I’m told that language has now been changed, so it reads: “We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections.”
Jon Hoadley, the Executive Director for the National Stonewall Democrats, says that at the suggestion of his organization and other LGBT organizations, “a couple of tweaks were made, mainly, making it clear that same sex couples are a part of all families.”
Hoadley goes on to say that the “LGBT Community,” whoever that may be, “thought this was the strongest platform ever for inclusion and substance over symbolism.”
On a related note, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network couldn’t be more pleased about the party’s fight against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which prohibits openly gay folk from serving in the military. From a gleeful press release:
The Platform Committee adopted draft language calling for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that in part reads, “At a time when the military is having a tough time recruiting and retaining troops, it is wrong to deny our country the service of brave, qualified people. We support the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the implementation of policies to allow qualified men and women to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.”
Now, if only we didn’t have the need for such things – the military, that is. Peace, man!
emb
Sounds OK to me: I think the idea of assuming that GLBT families are just “families” without the label (although certainly pointing us out) is preferable to the assumption that we are “seeking” equality. First acceptance of the idea, then the necessary legal and social supports fall into place. Nice. (Yeah, I know I’m being little mary sunshine, but what the heck.)
miKEM
Isn’t that ‘silent but equal’? Silence equals death!
Dean has to go!
allen
the platform drafting committee chair is arizona governor janet napolitano, who has spent years denying that she’s a big ol’ tomboy, if you know what I mean, and I think you do
seitan-on-a-stick
An Unscientific Presidential POLL (kinda like Fox)
[ ] McCain is this year’s Bob Dole
[ ] Obama is the “Black†John Kerry
[ ] McCain will pick Condi as Veep for Checkmate
[ ] Obama will be a Bill Clinton two-termer
[ ] McCain will be like Papa Bush’s third term of Reagan
[ ] Obama will be ousted by Big Oil in one term
[ ] Bush will declare Martial Law to stay in Office
[ ] Obama will have an Affair in Office
[ ] Bill Clinton will hit on Michelle Obama
[ ] Hillary will run for President in 2012
[ ] McCain will Die in Office
[ ] Al Gore will return to complete his 2000 elected term as a result of civil unrest
[ ] Paris Hilton’s Thong will Run Up her Ass
Multiple answers allowed (and encouraged!)