PageOneQ reports the sad news that Howard Dean misrepresented the 2004 Democratic Party Platform position on marriage equality in a speech to the Christian Broadcasting Network 700 Club prompting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to return a $5000 gift from the DNC.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force slams Howard Dean, Returns $5,000 gift from DNC
After it was reported that Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean misrepresented the portions of the party platform relating to marriage, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force returned a $5,000 contribution to the party, PageOneQ has learned.
In a release issued by the Task Force, a quote from Chairman Dean was reported as:
"The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That's what it says. I think where we may take exception with some religious leaders is that we believe in inclusion, that everybody deserves to live with dignity and respect, and that equal rights under the law are important."
Our Actual Democratic Party Platform
The actual part of the party platform reads:
"We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush's divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a 'Federal Marriage Amendment.' Our goal is to bring Americans together, not drive them apart."
Dean made the statements on the Christian Broadcasting Network during its popular 700 Club program.
This is almost too sad and incredible to believe. I am looking for confirmation or some explanation from Howard Dean, who has long been recorded as a champion and supporter of progressive causes. If he has decided to back pedal and support of the GLBT committees on our parties long commitment to equality and civil rights to all I will join calls for a boycott of funding of the DNC until he resigns.