Democratic Convention chair: Party platform should include marriage equality

The chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention on Wednesday announced support for including same sex marriage in the party's official platform.

During a Politico Playbook breakfast, Mike Allen asked Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa if he thought the "Democratic national platform should have a marriage equality plank?"

"I do," Villaraigosa replied. "You know, I think it's basic to who we are. I believe in family values and I believe that we all ought to be able to have a family and marry if you want to. I don’t think the government should be in that business of denying people the fundamental right to marry."

"You've not specifically said before that you favor a plank in the Democratic platform for marriage equality," Allen noted. "What do you think it should include?"

"That's going to be up to the delegates," the Los Angeles mayor shrugged. "The delegates will make the decision on the platform, but I do support it and certainly have for a long time."

Last month, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also told Metro Weekly that she was behind adding marriage equality to the Democratic Party's platform.

While President Barack Obama does not support equal marriage rights for LGBT Americans, the White House has said for months that his beliefs were "evolving" on the issue.

"The president's position on these issues writ large are well known," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said last month. "You know his position, where it stands now, on the position of same sex marriage. I don't have much to add on that."

Watch this video from Politico, broadcast March. 7, 2012.

(H/T: Think Progress)