Democrats 2012 Platform includes support for marriage equality

Monday, in Charlotte, at the Democratic National Convention, the DNC released the text of it's 2012 Platform including full support for marriage equality.

This is in stark contrast with the Republican Platform that affords no support for LGBT American's rights. In fact, the GOP Platform stridently denounces any marriage or partnership rights for gays and lesbians.

Here is the language in the platform that addresses marriage equality for all:

“We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law,” says the document. “We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.”

“We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples,” continues the platform. “We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.”

In addition, before the marriage equality plank, the platform revisits President Obama's achievements on behalf of LGBT Americans:

“This administration hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention and we must continue our work to prevent vicious bullying of young people and support LGBT youth.

The President’s record, from ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in full cooperation with our military leadership, to passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to ensuring same-sex couples can visit each other in the hospital, reflects Democrats’ belief that all Americans deserve the same chance to pursue happiness, earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.

The Administration has said that the word ‘family’ in immigration includes LGBT relationships in order to protect bi-national families threatened with deportation.”

(source)