Democrat’s marriage equality platform draft unveiled

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BuzzFeed on Thursday obtained the current language of the Democratic Party platform, which endorses same sex marriage equality.

“We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law,” the Democratic platform, which is currently a draft, states. “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.”

“We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.”

Every four years, a drafting committee made up of party officials comes together to write the party’s official platform, which is currently still in its draft phase. The group will meet again in Detroit in August to hear a “close-to-final” draft and suggest amendments before presenting the document at the Democratic National Convention in September.

“Marriage equality has quickly become a mainstream American value and it’s a sign of the times that the Democratic Party has included language affirming the ability of gays and lesbians to marry in its draft platform,” Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in a statement. “We encourage the Platform Committee and the delegates to the convention to adopt this strong statement that all loving and committed American families deserve equal treatment.”