A number of key LGBT provisions are
included in this year's Democratic Party platform.
Released Friday, the draft platform
applauds the Supreme Court ruling that found that gay and lesbian
couples have a constitutional right to marry, calls for passage of
the Equality Act and cheers repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”
“Democrats applaud last year’s
decision by the Supreme Court that recognized LGBT people – like
every other American – have the right to marry the person they
love,” the document states. “But there is still much work to be
done. LGBT kids continue to be bullied at school, a restaurant can
refuse to serve a transgender person, and a same-sex couple is at
risk of being evicted from their home. That is unacceptable and must
change. Democrats will fight for comprehensive federal non-
discrimination protections for all LGBT Americans and push back
against state efforts to discriminate against LGBT individuals. We
will combat LGBT youth homelessness and improve school climates, and
we will protect transgender individuals from violence. We will
promote LGBT human rights and ensure America’s foreign policy is
inclusive of LGBT people around the world.”
In a section titled Support Our
Troops and Keep Faith with Our Veterans, the draft platform
states that Democrats “are proud of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't
Tell,” the military policy that prohibited gay and lesbian troops
from serving openly.
Democrats also call for an AIDS-free
generation, saying that they believe it is “within our grasp.”
“But we know far too many Americans
still suffer, which is why we will implement the National HIV and
AIDS Strategy, increase research funding for the National Institutes
of Health, cap pharmaceutical expenses for people living with HIV and
AIDS, address HIV criminalization laws, and expand access for HIV
prevention medications, particularly for the populations most at risk
of infection. Abroad, we will make the President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief more effective and increase global funding for HIV
and AIDS prevention and treatment. Democrats will always protect
those living with HIV and AIDS from stigma and discrimination,” the
document states.
JoDee Winterhof of the LGBT advocacy
group HRC praised the platform.
“This is the most LGBTQ-inclusive
plaatform of any major U.S. party,” she said in a statement. “From
protecting LGBTQ young people to ending the epidemic of violence
against transgender people to passing an explicit and comprehensive
federal non-discrimination law to bringing about an AIDS-free
generation, the platform addresses many of the major challenges
facing our community today.”