22 Senators endorse freedom to marry plank in 2012 National Democratic Platform

UPDATE: Moments after the Washington Blade originally reported that 19 Senators support a freedom to marry plank in the 2012 Democratic Party Platform, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced his endorsement. Senators Frank Lautenburg and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) also gave their endorsements later in the day, bring the total number of Senators who have endorsed a marriage plank up to 22. We've updated this post accordingly and will continue to update throughout the day.
 
Glad to report that we're ending the week on a very good note- 22 more endorsements of our "Democrats: Say I Do" campaign! Today, the Washington Blade broke the news that 22 Senators have joined our efforts urging the Democratic Party to adopt a plank in support of the freedom to marry in the 2012 national platform. 
 
Senators endorsing the freedom to marry plank today include Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Harkin (D-IA), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenburg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Udall (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
 
Today's news comes on the heels of what's already been a momentuous week for this campaign. Yesterday, four co-chairs of Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign endorsed the marriage plank, while New York's Eric Schneiderman became the first state attorney general to announce his support. Earlier this week, we received endorsements from US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and former Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, who both serve as co-chairs of the Presidents reelection campaign. House Leader Nancy Pelosi, YDA President Emily Sussman, and Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva and Keith Ellison, co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced their support for adding a freedom to marry plank last week.
 
Our founder and President Evan Wolfson released this statement today, thanking the Senators for their support: 
 
"These 22 senators from across the nation all know firsthand why marriage matters to gay and lesbian couples, their kids, their kin, and our country.  Their support for Freedom to Marry's Say I Do campaign shows real momentum among Democrats for what the Democratic Party does at its best -- overcome discrimination and barriers and lead the way toward a more perfect union.  Freedom to Marry looks forward to working with these Democratic leaders, others joining the call, and those signing our online petition to put the Party and then America squarely on the side of liberty and justice for all."

All of us at Freedom to Marry extend our deepest gratitude to the growing number of elected officials, advocates, and 29,000 Americans who have already added their voices to this campaign. Be on the lookout for more exciting endorsements in the coming days, weeks, and months as we mobilize support in communities around the country between now and the National Democratic Convention in Charlotte in September.

Still haven't added your name to the petition? Take a minute now and ask the Democratic Party to value and respect all families in the 2012 Party Platform.