House Democratic Leader Pelosi endorses freedom to marry plank in 2012 platform

It's only been two days since we launched our Democrats: Say I Do campaign calling on the national Democratic Party to include a plank in support of the freedom to marry in its 2012 platform, and already we have the endorsement of one of the party's highest ranking elected officials, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. In an exclusive with Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner late last night, Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hammill stated, "Leader Pelosi supports this language."
 
We're thrilled to have the support and endorsement from one of the Democratic Party's most influential leaders. Our Founder and President Evan Wolfson released this statement:

"Freedom to Marry is proud to have Leader Pelosi joining our call to put the Democratic Party squarely on record in support of the freedom to marry as part of the national platform.  A strong majority of Democrats and Independents support the freedom to marry, and standing up for all families is not just the right thing to do morally, it's also right to do politically.  I hope more people will quickly join Leader Pelosi by signing Freedom to Marry's Democrats: Say I Do petition so together we can get the party, and the country, where the majority of Americans already are."

And it's not just House Leader Pelosi who is picking up on the momentum of this campaign- in less than 48 hours, our petition has generated nearly 10,000 signatures from supporters nationwide! 

Between now and the Democratic National Convention in September, we'll organize around the country to urge the party to include the freedom to marry plank in its platform. Building on the momentum of House Leader Pelosi's endorsement, we'll continue to enlist party leaders, elected officials, marriage advocates, and every day voters to demonstrate the widespread support amongst members of the Democratic Party to the Platform Drafting Committee.
 
The proposed language for the plank builds on previous, less explicit planks endorsed over the past two presidential election cycles, and states:

“We support the full inclusion of all families in the life of our nation, with equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law, including the freedom to marry.  Government has no business putting barriers in the path of people seeking to care for their family members, particularly in challenging economic times.  We support the Respect for Marriage Act and the overturning of the federal so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and oppose discriminatory constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny the freedom to marry to loving and committed same-sex couples.” 

Click here to add your name to the petition calling on the party to adopt the plank and then share this action with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and via email.