EXCLUSIVE: 22 U.S. senators call for marriage equality plank in Dem platform

[ProSense]

EXCLUSIVE: 22 U.S. senators call for marriage equality plank in Dem platform

By Chris Johnson

A group of U.S. senators is joining the wave of LGBT rights supporters calling for an endorsement of marriage equality in the Democratic Party platform.

The Washington Blade received statements from the offices of 22 Democratic senators — including Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — expressing support for including a marriage equality plank in the Democratic Party platform. The Blade solicited statements from all 53 Democratic senators and will update this article as more senators respond.

The senators follow the lead of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who on Tuesday became the first U.S. senator this year to get behind the idea of including same-sex marriage in the Democratic Party platform. Shaheen, who’s also a co-chair of President Obama’s national campaign committee, said she backs a plank in support of marriage equality proposed by the LGBT organization Freedom to Marry.

In addition to calling for an inclusion of marriage equality in the Democratic Party platform, the language also backs overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and passing DOMA repeal legislation known as the Respect for Marriage Act in addition to opposing state constitutional amendments aimed at blocking gay couples from marriage rights.

The 22 senators are Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

- more -

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/03/02/exclusive-18-u-s-senators-call-for-marriage-equality-plank-in-dem-platform/

[barbtries]

1. i think i'll write to kay hagen

and tell her to join this action. i like it very much.

[Ohio Joe]

2. 22 is a good start but...

Every American should be standing up for equal rights for all.

[MACARD]

10. it should but the Spirit of George Wallace lives on in the Xenophobes and republicans.

George Wallace of course famous for being the Governor of Alabama and authorizing the use of fire-hoses on Civil rights activist

[Bluenorthwest]

24. The President is still on record as opposing equality due to his religion. Same for Biden.

Many people in power in the DNC are also Anti-Equality, most of them claim it is their religion to oppose the rights of others. Let's remain honest here. If it was just the GOP fine. It is our own leadership that spouts 'Sacrament' and 'Sanctity of all straights' and such crap and we all know it. Time for honesty to rule.

[etherealtruth]

3. Excellent

[politicasista]

4. Kick

[Withywindle]

5. About damn time! This is awesome.

I'm surprised that Dick Durbin of IL isn't on board with this yet - I'm sure he will be soon. But I'll call his office on Monday just to make sure.

[steve2470]

6. k&r nt

[ruggerson]

7. Uh, the platform will ultimately be what Obama wishes it to be

As of today, he's not the leading light on marriage equality.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

14. The platform will be what Democrats vote for it to be...

The President's position has been wishy-washy on the subject. But if he could steer Democrats, as you suggested, a lot more would have been accomplished in the first two years of his administration.

[Nye Bevan]

8. I wish President Obama would sign on to this. (nt)

[Mister Ed]

9. The honor roll.

The good Senator Franken makes me proud to be a Minnesotan once again.

[patrice]

11. Civil Rights should be supported by ALL Democrats! nt

[awoke_in_2003]

26. +1000. nt

[JDPriestly]

12. I am pleased to see our California senators are on this list of supporters

of equality of marriage rights for all.

[tokenlib]

13. Debbie Stabenow will play blind and dumb on this one...hope I'm wrong..

Running for re-election she will be afraid of antagonizing the social conservatives andpro-lifer evangelicals of the northern and rural parts of the state.

Maybe she'll prove me wrong and do the right thing--but I'd almost bet this type of thing makes her nervous.

[me b zola]

15. Thats good

Now maybe we can get 22 to sign onto Democratic fiscal & the other social policies too.

[Bohunk68]

16. I was certain that

Kirsten Gillibrand would be on the list, glad to see that Chuck Schumer is also on the list.

[bread_and_roses]

23. It doesn't take any $$ out of his Bankster Buds' pockets

And I will call Gillibrand today. She's afraid of the Upstate conservatives. Needs to feel some heat from the rest of us.

[Bette Noir]

17. Both my Senators (Wyden and Merkeley) are on the list.

They're good guys, and swoon-worthy as well.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. Ron and Jeff Do The Right Thing....

as they usually do.

[azurnoir]

18. Kudo's to Senator Franken and I'm disappointed but not surprised

to see that Senator Klobuchar's name is not among those supporting this

[ghjtydger]

21. Spam deleted by NRaleighLiberal (MIR Team)

[LynneSin]

22. I'm so proud Senator Coons is a part of this but I wish carper would join in too

And I don't know why he's hesitating on it. He's not Catholic but Presbyterian and I've been to Wilmington Presbyterian church services (not sure if it's his Presbyterian church) and they're pretty progressive thinkers. The Pastor at the one I attended mentioned about the war on contraception and pretty much said 'why is this even an issue?'

[Robb]

27. K&R!!

[DreamGypsy]

28. Thank you, Wyden and Merkley...

for making Oregon a home run state!