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Loading ...Democrats Told To Include Gay Issues In Platform
08.02.2008 9:14am EDT
(Cleveland, Ohio) Democrats crafting the party platform were told Friday to include LGBT issues.
The National Platform Drafting Committee is holding hearings across the country to hear from various groups on what should be included in the 2008 platform.In Cleveland on Friday, Allison Herwitt, the legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, called for a clear position by the party on several issues, including repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – the ban on gays serving openly in the military – and the addition of sexuality and gender expression in federal workplace laws.
“HIV and AIDS remains a critical issue for GLBT people, as the epidemic continues to affect our community disproportionately, particularly young people and gay and bisexual men of color,” Herwitt told the committee. “We ask that the platform include a call for the development and implementation of a comprehensive national strategy on HIV/AIDS.”
Herwitt also called for passage of an all inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
The bill, known as ENDA, which is currently before Congress, adds gays and lesbians to protected classes, but excludes transgendered people.
ENDA, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass), originally included transgendered people, but Frank removed those protections in committee, saying it would be impossible to pass.
More than a dozen LGBT groups immediately distanced themselves from the legislation, but not HRC. The bill passed the House and a Senate version is pending, but the HRC position deeply divided LGBT activists.
The organization recently has been calling for separate legislation to add transgendered people back into the bill.
“Despite advances, far too many GLBT Americans continue to face workplace discrimination. It remains legal to fire someone based solely on sexual orientation in 30 states, and in 38 states based on gender identity,” said Herwitt. “Transgender people are particularly vulnerable to discrimination in the workplace and it is absolutely crucial that the platform explicitly support workplace protections based on gender identity. We ask that the platform call for the adoption of a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination against all members of our community.”
She also called for language in the platform voicing opposition to any efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage and support for same-sex relationships.
“While marriage and other forms of relationship recognition are a reality for gay and lesbian couples in more and more states, federal law continues to deny them access to a myriad of rights and benefits. For example, these committed couples do not have equal access to Social Security survivor benefits, equitable taxation of their health insurance benefits, or the ability to attain permanent legal status for a foreign partner. We ask that the platform continue to support equal rights, benefits and responsibilities for gay and lesbian couples,” said Herwitt.
National Stonewall Democrats, the party’s LGBT wing, also has addressed the committee at several of its stops.
“While we have worked with national partners to provide testimony to the Platform Committee, we have more importantly encouraged thousands of Stonewall Democrats across our country to provide similar testimony on behalf of pro-equality positions,” said Stonewall Democrats spokesperson John Marble.
“Stonewall Democrats is continuing to work with the Platform Committee, national convention delegates and party leaders to ensure that issues important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are advocated within the Democratic Party.”
A draft proposed platform will be voted on next week. If accepted it will then move to the convention and the full Platform Committee for a second vote and then to delegates for final acceptance.
A record number of LGBT delegates are expected at this year’s convention
The United States Constitution is not a religious document, therefore adding a marriage amendment is unconstitutional. Read the first amendment! No U.S. government has the leagl authority to regulate marriage. Marriage has been turned into a religious institution and then highjacked by U.S. governments which is basicly religious rule. I still cannot support the democratic party even if they say they will pass all kinds of gay friendly laws because their goal is and has been to remove our constitutional freedoms. The republicans also wish to remove our freedoms but in different ways. “We the people” live under a dictatorship by our own choosing by our constant voting to keep the same law makers in our government for years.
It is clear to me that Obama will (if elected) be the worse choice since Bill Clinton for Gay People. He has already sanctioned giving US money to churches. He has shown in the past that he really dislikes gay people by continuing to attend a church who spouts hate from the pulpit. If he had any back bone what so ever he would have resigned from the church. Instead he continued to listen and has indicated now he is for “Faith Based Initiatives” which is nothing more than Giveaways from the US government to churches (like his) that spout hate.
Why are gays supporting Obama the Messiah? Like all his politics, he just told you what you wanted to hear? But right after he told you what you wanted to hear, he told Newsomes people, “I can’t have my photograph taken with you… a gay mayor”
Dont fall fo the kool aid, at least McCain will stay out of your way and let you fight in the states.
1995, Obama said, he needs to save himself by paying back the black people off the backs of the white people. I think we knwo what this fake is all about, HIMSELF!