Pelosi Backs Marriage Equality For 2012 Platform

In what is being hailed as a landmark moment, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) has officially said that she supports adding a call for full marriage equality to the 2012 Democratic Party platform.

This in response to the “Say I Do” campaign by equality campaign group Freedom to Marry which aims to secure an affirmation of marriage equality in the next Party Platform.

Metro Weekly has the exclusive, an excerpt of which reads:

The proposed plank states: “We support the full inclusion of all families in the life of our nation, with equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law, including the freedom to marry. Government has no business putting barriers in the path of people seeking to care for their family members, particularly in challenging economic times. We support the Respect for Marriage Act and the overturning of the federal so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and oppose discriminatory constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny the freedom to marry to loving and committed same-sex couples.”

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tells Metro Weekly, “Leader Pelosi supports this language.”

While individual Democratic lawmakers have shown their support for same-sex marriage, both by supporting legislation in their home states and supporting moves to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the official party platform does not contain explicit support for marriage equality. Indeed, while the Party’s platform has a long-standing opposition to a federal marriage amendment and has also opposed the federal Defense of Marriage Act, it has however reiterated a collective stance on maintaining marriage as one man and one woman. The new wording as mentioned above would be a significant departure from that previous position statement.

Freedom to Marry founder and president, Evan Wolfson, released this statement on Pelosi’s support:

“Freedom to Marry is proud to have Leader Pelosi joining our call to put the Democratic Party squarely on record in support of the freedom to marry as part of the national platform. A strong majority of Democrats andIndependents support the freedom to marry, and standing up for all families is not just the right thing to do morally, it’s also right to do politically. I hope more people will quickly join Leader Pelosi by signing Freedom to Marry’s Democrats: Say I Do petition so together we can get the party, and the country, where the majority of Americans already are.”

You can find out more about the Freedom to Marry “Say I Do” campaign here.

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pam w.

8:38AM PST on Feb 19, 2012

Well-said, Chad!

The tide is turning quickly, especially among younger people. Their lack of real direction other than simple OBSTRUCTION is putting Republicans into a shrinking minority.

send a green star

Chad A.

2:57AM PST on Feb 19, 2012

Pelosi is doing a good job of drawing a clear distinction between the Democrats and the Republicans. Republicans have to take this issue off the table or promote it as agents of intolerance. I suspect there will not be many more anti-equality elections left at the national level because public opinion has turned too far to shove and bash everyone back into the closet. There may still be widespread discrimination but it looks like the tide is turning.

Pamylle G.

8:43AM PST on Feb 18, 2012

Pleasantly surprised !

Joe R.

5:10PM PST on Feb 17, 2012

Nancy Pelosi has been a LGBT ally for 25 years in the legislature. In her first speech on the House floor she spoke out on AIDS. A remarkably brave thing to do at the time. Thank you Nancy!

8:50AM PST on Feb 17, 2012

EXACTLY, JA Carlton! Exactly!

JACarlton A.

2:39AM PST on Feb 17, 2012

Steve R said: "Oh yes please Nancy - please do include it in the Democrat Party platform!

Also throw in free abortions, free contraceptives and LGBT instruction in our schools!

Let's see if ALL registered Democrats and the independents and swing voters you rely on will support you!

I love it!"

Y'know what Steve? I LOVE IT TOO! If she managed to pull that off I'd vote for her for president of the world! (I'm sure the majority of FORWARD thinking people would too)

2:33AM PST on Feb 17, 2012

Way to go Nancy!

Jim R.

7:42PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

WAY to Go NANCY - BRAVO!

Lauren B.

6:19PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

Nice, Nancy. Thanks!

Dr C.

6:05PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

Putting the constitution and equality into a party's platform would be an incredible engine that would have the GOP campaigning on a platform to subvert both.