Caroline Kennedy on Monday endorsed
adding gay marriage to the 2012 Democratic platform.
Freedom to Marry announced that Kennedy
had joined its Democrats: Say I Do campaign, which calls for
adding marriage equality to this year's platform.
“There are few things in life more
important than being able to marry and build a family with the person
you love. This fundamental right should be available to all
Americans, including gay and lesbian couples,” Kennedy is quoted as
saying. “In our democracy we are fortunate to have elected
officials at all levels of government, and courageous jurists who
have put their careers on the line, to uphold the promise of equality
that is as old as our Constitution, and I hope that many more will
follow their example.”
“Freedom to Marry is proud that
Caroline Kennedy has joined the growing chorus of Democratic voices
in our call for a freedom to marry plank in the national Democratic
Party Platform,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of
Freedom to Marry.
Democrats who have endorsed putting
marriage equality in the platform include Democratic National
Convention chair Antonio
Villaraigosa, House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi, U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth
Warren and nearly two dozen U.S. senators.
Nearly 40,000 Democrats have added
their names to Freedom to Marry's Democrats:
Say I Do online petition.
(Related: Caroline
Kennedy urges Obama to support gay marriage.)