Democratic Party releases 2008 platform, very little gay about it

[meegbear]

Today, the Democratic National Committee sent a draft of the party’s 2008 platform to committee members that incorporated planks from the platforms of former candidates, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards, into presumptive nominee Barack Obama’s vision for the party and for America.

At the heart of the draft was Sen. Clinton’s plan for universal health care along with her campaign’s commitment to women’s rights as well as John Edwards chief campaign plank involving the elimination of poverty in America.

There is however very little mention of issues pertaining to gay and lesbian rights in the 54-page document.

In total, the 2008 DNC platform makes just two mentions of ‘sexual orientation.’ The first is with respect to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Under the heading "Allow All Americans to Serve," the draft platform offers up the following:

We will also put national security above divisive politics. More than 10,000 service men and women have been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation since the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was implemented, at a cost of over $360 million. Many of those forced out had special skills in high demand, such as translators, engineers and pilots. At a time when the military is having a tough time recruiting and retaining troops, it is wrong to deny our country the service of brave, qualified people. We support the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the implementation of policies to allow qualified men and women to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.

Thereafter, the only other mention of sexual orientation in the entire document as it is currently written can be found under the general heading, “A More Perfect Union,” wherein the DNC makes the following pledge:

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.

LGBT issues aside, the Democratic party platform promises to “restore our constitutional traditions, and recover our nation's founding commitment to liberty under the law” by, among other things, rejecting “illegal wire-tapping of American citizens" and torture, unequivocally supporting a woman’s right to choose and committing to an overhaul of nation’s immigration laws that will allow illegal immigrants the opportunity to "get right with the law."

http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Democratic_Party_releases_2008_platform_very_little_ga_0808.html

[Dark]

1. Welcome to America, land of the lesser of two evils.

fucking politicians.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Is anyone really surprised?

We are irrelevant, except when it comes to obediently voting for Democrats. Even then, our issues are irrelevant and get as little mention as possible, just enough to placate the restless sheep.

[meegbear]

4. The more things change ....

[Tyo]

9. And even if we do vote for them

which I intend to, no flaming please, we will be getting little more than a breather while the Rethugs get their act together for another and maybe final coup.

[BR_Parkway]

3. Certainly no surprise there - just as I've said in almost every other

election, we really don't count for much....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4518042

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. well atleast they will tackle DADT and ENDA

but not marriage, right?

[Not Me]

6. I strongly believe that with a Dem win in November, there will be

coordinated lawsuits with plaintiffs of Massachusetts and California taking on the constitutionality of Protection of Marriage Act.
That's when RW heads will really explode.

[SacredCow]

7. Not a big shock... n/t

[Q3JR4]

8. I'm not really surprised.

The Democratic response to all things gay seems to be "If you vote for us we'll do stuff for you. We will not, however, campaign on behalf of your issues, write anything to support you, appoint anyone who will give your rights even a passing glance, or think about your issues when we make decisions affecting everyone in this country. After all, rather than do what's right, we'll do what's politically expedient. We'll throw you or anyone else under the bus if it suites us...but we probably shouldn't have told you that..."

Q3JR4.

[DarkTirade]

10. Unfortunatly our choices are limited to one of two options...

those who hate us, and those who just don't care.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

11. Least they could have done was confront youth bullying...

The Dem Platform should have at least had guts to take on homophobia in the schools.

And having a fundamental statement affirming "equal rights for LGBT in all areas of the law" wouldn't hurt either.

[ruggerson]

12. I read through both: they stripped the phrase "gay and lesbian" out of the new document

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6615018

[CitizenPatriot]

13. yeah

I suspect that there are many issues they are leaving out of this document on purpose, in hopes of getting the right's vote. I don't know a Dem who doesn't support gay marriage and want it to be legal in every state. I can't imagine this isn't on the table and won't be one of the first things to get done, esp if we get a dem pres and dem majority in senate.

they're simply hoping it won't be "the issue" this year, since that inflamed possible converts last time.

[MuseRider]

14. I am so sorry.

This is an embarrassment, worse it is the slap in the face that they promised would not come. Those of you still hoping that with Dem majorities and a Dem in the White House it will change had better steal yourselves for a big disappointment.

Another good reason for me to be happy I am not a Democrat.

My little caveat....I will be thrilled to eat my words if they actually take on your issues and fight tooth and nail for them. If they just bring them up and let them drop it confirms that they only want your work, money and votes but if they really do something I will eat my words so gladly I will sing and dance while doing it.

Damn this is sad.

[terrya]

15. Nevermind

My post was lame. Sorry.