Democratic Party chairs from eleven
states on Thursday endorsed adding gay marriage to the 2012
Democratic platform.
Calling for the inclusion are John
Burton of California, Joan Wagnon of Kansas, John Walsh of
Massachusetts, Ken Martin of Minnesota, Jon Wisniewski of New Jersey,
Jay Jacobs of New York, Meredith Wood Smith of Oregon, Boyd Richie of
Texas, Jake Perkinson of Vermont, Dwight Pelz of Washington and Mike
Tate of Wisconsin.
They join a growing chorus of Democrats
who have endorsed putting marriage equality in the platform,
including Democratic National Convention chair Antonio
Villaraigosa, House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi, U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth
Warren and nearly two dozen U.S. senators.
Freedom to Marry launched its
Democrats: Say I Do campaign with the goal of adding marriage
equality to the Democratic platform in March.
“Nearly a year ago, New Yorkers stood
united in supporting full marriage equality for all loving and
committed families, and Democrats led the way,” New York Democratic
Party Chair Jay Jacobs said in a statement. “We now see first-hand
how marriage improves the lives of gay couples and their families,
and strengthens businesses and communities throughout the Empire
State. Marriage equality is simply the right thing to do, and that's
why I strongly believe that the Democratic Party should stand united
for a freedom to marry plank in our national Democratic Party
platform.”
Nearly 40,000 Democrats have added
their names to Freedom to Marry's Democrats:
Say I Do online petition.