After Republicans delivered the most regressive anti-LGBT platform in GOP history, the Democratic platform committee stands ready to adopt has adopted the “most progressive LGBT platform” in the party's history, reports Dominic Holden.
Not only does the platform celebrate last year's Supreme Court victory legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, it pushes for protecting LGBT Americans in housing, public accommodations, employment, and more through both “sex” discrimination laws and passing federal legislation explicitly protecting gay and trans individuals. The platform also denounces the many state-sponsored efforts to target LGBT folks through so-called religious freedom laws—which are described as the "misuse of religion" to discriminate—and laws restricting "the right to access public spaces," such as the HB2 bathroom bill in North Carolina.
Holden adds:
The final draft also adds language about equipping the Census Bureau to track data on LGBT people and other historically undercounted populations. Another plank notes that “detention can be unacceptably dangerous” for LGBT people in regards to immigration enforcement.
Other new elements include reviewing records for soldiers discharged due to their sexual orientation, and, in foreign policy, considering LGBT rights as a matter of human rights.
The two main LGBT planks are pasted below.
Guaranteeing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights
Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognized that LGBT people—like other Americans—have the right to marry the person they love. But there is still much work to be done. LGBT kids continue to be bullied at school, restaurants can refuse to serve transgender people, and same-sex couples are at risk of being evicted from their homes. That is unacceptable and must change. Democrats will fight for the continued development of sex discrimination law to cover LGBT people. We will also fight for comprehensive federal non- discrimination protections for all LGBT Americans, to guarantee equal rights in areas such as housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, jury service, education, and federal funding. We will oppose all state efforts to discriminate against LGBT individuals, including legislation that restricts the right to access public spaces. We support a progressive vision of religious freedom that respects pluralism and rejects the misuse of religion to discriminate. We will combat LGBT youth homelessness and improve school climates. We will support LGBT elders, ensure access to necessary health care, and protect LGBT people from violence— including ending the crisis of violence against transgender Americans. We will also promote LGBT human rights and ensure America’s foreign policy is inclusive of LGBT people around the world. [...]
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People
Democrats believe that LGBT rights are human rights and that American foreign policy should advance the ability of all persons to live with dignity, security, and respect, regardless of who they are or who they love. We applaud President Obama’s historic Presidential Memorandum on International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons, which combats criminalization, protects refugees, and provides foreign assistance. We will continue to stand with LGBT people around the world, including fighting efforts by any nation to infringe on LGBT rights or ignore abuse.