Barney Frank: Marriage Equality Will Be in Democratic Party Platform

Source: The Advocate

Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts said in a telephone interview Monday that the Democratic Party will affirm its commitment to marriage equality in the platform currently being drafted and that the move has his “full support.”

“Yes, it will be in the platform,” said Frank. “I am in favor of it being included and it will be included.”

The out gay congressman, who is stepping down this year, sits on the 15-member platform drafting committee that heard testimony from advocates in Minneapolis this weekend. The committee will send recommendations to the full platform committee set to meet in Detroit next month. The process will culminate at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte this September.

Frank said that the Democratic Party had already cemented its support for marriage equality with President Barack Obama’s refusal to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, while House Republicans have taken up the law’s defense. Nearly all House Republicans have also voted to reaffirm their support for DOMA, including approval of an amendment against "contravening" the 1996 law earlier this month.


Read more: http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2012/07/30/barney-frank-marriage-equality-will-be-demcoratic-party

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