The Democratic National Committee
released a draft of the party's 2008 platform to be unveiled in
Denver at their convention. Gay groups offered a tepid response.
“As we head towards the November
elections, it's important to know if America's political parties and
candidates will begin to address the needs, and equality, of the LBGT
community,” Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Director of Communications Steve Ralls wrote on the group's blog.
Hardly a ringing endorsement of the
document. And here's why: the 56 page document spent much of its ink
on supporting Senator Hillary Clinton's plan for universal health
care and John Edward's call to eliminate poverty in America, and
little time on gay and lesbian issues.
Moreover, the attention spent on LGBT
issues is addressed in unusually broad terms. In its support for gay
marriage, the document offers a scant: “We oppose the Defense of
Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us.”
In supporting LGBT people, the document
says Democrats will “fight discrimination, including sexual
orientation and gender identity” and “We will enact a
comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act.”
Would most people consider this pro-gay
language?
Cindi Creager, Director of National
News at Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), wasn't
impressed, “...the [Democratic] Party found a way in the 56 page
document to address a handful of LGBT issues without ever actually
using the words lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”
The one bright spot in the platform
involved the military, where Democratic leaders got it right: “We
will also put national security above divisive politics. More than
10,000 service men and women have been discharged on the basis of
sexual orientation since the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy was
implemented, at a cost of over $360 million. Many of those forced
out had special skills in high demand, such as translators, engineers
and pilots. At a time when the military is having a tough time
recruiting and retaining troops, it is wrong to deny our country the
service of brave, qualified people. We support the repeal of 'Don't
Ask, Don't Tell' and the implementation of policies to allow
qualified men and women to serve openly regardless of sexual
orientation.”
The Servicemembers Legal Defense
Network (SLDN), a legal group dedicated to ending the “Don't Ask”
policy, applauded that statement by urging Republicans to call for
repeal in their platform.
Still, most in the gay community
commented that it was too little or too vague. Cindi Creager
commented on the GLAAD blog that Democrats were simply being cautious
not to use language that could be exploited by anti-gay forces.
Still, she called on the media to “hold
the parties accountable for clarifying positions rather than
tiptoeing around them with vague, linguistic maneuvering.”