Still shopping around for a political party?

Try the party platforms on for size.

What do we know about the national Democratic Party platform?

We know that a recent draft does not contain the words “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual” or “transgender,” but the platform is the most inclusive in the nation’s history, earning it the praise of GLBT activists from the Beltway to the Corn Belt.

Much of the praise comes for the passage titled “A More Perfect Union,” where the party for the first time explicitly commits to ending discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity.

“We believe in the essential American ideal that we are not constrained by the circumstances of birth but can make of our lives what we will,” the platform reads. “Unfortunately, for too many, that ideal is not a reality. … We have more work to do. Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and disability in every corner of our country, because that’s the America we believe in.”

The platform also calls for the passage of hate crimes legislation, the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning gays and lesbians from openly serving in the Armed Forces and the establishment of equal rights and benefits for same-sex couples and their families. For the first time, the party has included in the platform opposition to the federal Defense of Marriage Act and “all attempts to use this issue to divide us.”

The Democrats’ platform, to be voted upon at the convention this month, builds upon platforms of the past:

• The 2004 plank that promised an “ironclad” commitment to civil rights, including “equal treatment” of all servicemembers and banning workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

• The 2000 plank proclaiming, “We support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of the nation. This would include an equitable alignment of benefits.”

• The 1996 plank stating, “Today’s Democratic Party knows we must renew our efforts to stamp out discrimination and hatred of every kind,” and vowing to pass employment protections.

• The 1992 plank that promised “an end to Defense Department discrimination,” and the aggressive prosecution of hate crimes.

• The 1988 plank that stated, “We believe that we honor our multicultural heritage by assuring equal access to government services, employment, housing, business enterprise and education to every citizen regardless of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, handicapping condition or sexual orientation.”

• The 1980 plank the said, “Violent acts of bigotry, hatred and extremism aimed at women, racial, ethnic and religious minorities and gay men and lesbians have become an alarmingly common phenomenon. A Democratic administration will work vigorously to address, document and end all such violence.”

The Democratic Party’s platforms wear like platform shoes compared to the Republican Party’s platforms of the past. Gays and lesbians who sought to try on a GOP platform from 1980 probably ended up in stocking feet — the first mention of sexual orientation came in 1992 and it was far from lofty.

The GOP’s 1992 platform supported “the continued exclusion of homosexuals from the military as a matter of good order and discipline,” and opposed “any legislation or law that legally recognizes same-sex marriages and allows such couples to adopt children or provide foster care.”

Under a section on “promoting cultural values,” the 1992 Republican platform said the party stood “united with those private organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, who are defending decency in fulfillment of their own moral responsibilities.”

The party remained firm in its opposition to lifting the ban against gays in the military in its 1996 platform, as well as lauded Republican leaders for passing the Defense of Marriage Act.

The 2000 Republican platform, the document of George W. Bush’s uncompassionate conservative era, stated, “We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law,” and “we affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service.”

Four years ago, Republicans did little to modify — or modernize — the platform on GLBT issues. The platform actually more aggressively opposed GLBT equality, containing a lengthy passage on the party’s opposition to government recognizing same-sex unions and pledging to promote Bush’s proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

There is little to suggest the Republicans will adopt a gay-friendly platform at its national convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul next month. In fact, there’s little to suggest that the GOP platform will be as promising on GLBT issues as the Democratic platform was 28 years ago.

So, if you still are shopping around for a political party, I remind you of an old proverb, “If the shoe fits, wear it.”