Eric Schneiderman Joins Push To Add Marriage Equality To Democratic Party Platform

WASHINGTON -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has become the latest high-profile Democrat to sign on to the campaign to get the Democratic Party to endorse marriage equality in its 2012 platform. He is the first attorney general to publicly support the effort.

"As a result of marriage equality in New York State, every man and woman will be treated equally in our county clerks' offices, courts, and administrative agencies. But there are obstacles on the federal level that stand in the way of full equality for all New Yorkers," Schneiderman wrote in a letter to the Democratic Party Platform Drafting Committee provided exclusively to The Huffington Post.

"Because the Democratic Party has a noble history of fighting for the human and civil rights of all Americans, it is time to hold true to this record and add to the Party's legacy by supporting the freedom to marry for all couple," he added.

According to Freedom to Marry, which is leading the "Democrats: Say I Do" campaign on the issue, Schneiderman will work to encourage more of his counterparts in other states to join on.

"We are grateful to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for his stalwart leadership in helping end marriage discrimination in New York and for signing on to our effort to secure a freedom to marry plank in the Democratic Party platform," said Marc Solomon, National Campaign Director for Freedom to Marry. "Attorneys General know first-hand the injustices that same-sex couples face every day when they are denied the freedom to marry the person they love. We especially welcome General Schneiderman's leadership in enlisting Democratic attorneys general from across the country to join in this endeavor."

In July, Schneiderman challenged the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage. He argued that DOMA violates same-sex couples' constitutional right to equal protection.

The language that Freedom to Marry wants included in the platform 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.

If the language is adopted, the party's platform would embrace marriage equality for the first time. In 2008, the platform stated, "We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us," but it did not explicitly call for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

In 2004, the platform condemned Republican attempts to pass a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, but it also said the decision should be left to the states: "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."

The Democratic platform will be ratified at the party's national convention, which begins Sept. 3 in Charlotte, N.C.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney recently said that President Barack Obama's stance on the issue os same-sex marriage continues to "evolve."

This past week, two of Obama's national campaign co-chairs Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), endorsed the "Democrats: Say I Do" campaign. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has also voiced her support.

Schneiderman's Full Letter:

To the Members of the Democratic Party Platform Drafting Committee:

At our founding, what made America different from every other country that existed before was a commitment to an ideal that had never been advanced – that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our history as a nation has been one of striving to make those words ever more true. Last year, New York rose to the challenge, and the rest of the nation ought to follow our lead and carry on this great American tradition.

As a result of marriage equality in New York State, every man and woman will be treated equally in our county clerks’ offices, courts, and administrative agencies. But there are obstacles on the federal level that stand in the way of full equality for all New Yorkers. For example, the Defense of Marriage Act, which our office is challenging in court over its clear violation of the principle of equal justice under law as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, interferes with New York's efforts to ensure equality for its citizens.

Because the Democratic Party has a noble history of fighting for the human and civil rights of all Americans, it is time to hold true to this record and add to the Party’s legacy by supporting the freedom to marry for all couples.

I urge you to affirm the freedom to marry in the Democratic Party by including this plank in the platform discussion of families:

The Democratic Party supports the full inclusion of all families in the life of our nation, with equal respect, responsibility, and protection 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. I 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.

As Attorney General, it is my responsibility to fight every day to defend the fundamental guarantee of equal protection under law for all New Yorkers. And it is my hope that the Drafting Committee will fulfill its responsibility to uphold the Party's proud commitment to justice for all by supporting marriage equality. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the country to make it happen.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Eric T. Schneiderman
New York Attorney General

Comments

[Steve Brewer II]

09:42 PM on 03/01/2012

I really enjoy having Schneiderman as AG. If I could meet him in person I would tell him to stay the course!

[Missy Miyashiro]

08:37 PM on 03/01/2012

I hope more and more people step up! His letter was right, we need to continue to fight for what this country was founded on!

[enlightened45]

06:24 PM on 03/01/2012

Thank you AG Schneidermann for this and your efforts to force Wall Streeters to face charges for their fraudulent ways in the economic debacle, of which they were major architects in designing the $$$$house of cards. You appear to be the next generation of national politicians who will fight for equality in marriage, money, and the 99%ers.

[Freddie27]

06:17 PM on 03/01/2012

Schneiderman's kind of the anti-Cucinelli.

[floridaviolinist]

05:59 PM on 03/01/2012

does the Democratic party really have to officially adopt it? every governor that has signed marriage equality legislation in their states have been democratic, and it's come with opposition from basically every republican.

[Steve Brewer II]

09:45 PM on 03/01/2012

Didn't Romney get forced into signing the equality legislation in Mass? Besides that I would support having the party adopt it, it is becoming more and more popular amongst younger voters as they become more and more liberal on social issues

[floridaviolinist]

01:46 AM on 03/02/2012

no, Romney was not forced to sign marriage equality. The Massachusetts State Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples should be treated equally to heteros, he had to comply with it. There is NO way Romney would be the frontrunner right now if he had signed same sex marriage legislation.

[Fan Tastic]

05:24 PM on 03/01/2012

equality? THAT'S really got to scare the republicans to death! What's theirs is theirs and what's yours is theirs too!

[Return of PlayFair]

05:14 PM on 03/01/2012

Hey, I've got a crazy idea. How about we focus on winning the election?

I know there's a lot of Dems who say "I don't care if we lose the election, and I lose my rights, and the EPA is shut down, and Wall Street ruins the economy again, and we stay in Afghanistan and more people who aren't me die. I want to congratulate myself on my moral superiority by pushing NOW for a policy we've never had, instead of waiting just a few more months."

Well, personally, I got over being proud of losing, a couple decades ago.

[Jim281]

05:12 PM on 03/01/2012

=!

Yes!!

The issue is rapidly falling away from something that is strictly partisan (thankfully)

Some GOP heaviweights onboard with this latest civil rights battle:

Ted Olsen
Dick Cheney
Laura Bush (former First Lady)
Cindy McCain
Meghan McCain

There seems to be fewer and fewer issues that are gaining support from both sides of the aisle. I am NOWHERE NEAR Republican, but I do thank and applaud these folks for doing the right thing.

[WhatWhat1]

06:45 PM on 03/01/2012

The last three on your list can't possibly be considered heavyweights. Dick Cheney's behavior shows that even the most evil person in politics has at least one redeeming value.

[Jim281]

05:46 PM on 03/02/2012

OK, that was somewhat hypebole. I guess "Famous Republicans", or "Republicans with wide name recognition" would be a more accurate discription.

That doens minimize, in my opinion, the importance that SOME conservatives, including the likes of Cheney, have shown some integrity towards an issue unpopular umong their party.

I am still awestruck at the attidude and actions of Ted Olsen. There is no minimizing the importance of what he has done, and continues to do for Marriage Equality.

thank you, Mr. Olsen!

[giftsthatpurr]

05:02 PM on 03/01/2012

Kudos to NY's Attorney General.

[Left Hook]

04:46 PM on 03/01/2012

Don't wimp out dems - Add marriage equality to our platform - PERIOD! History and the advancement of civilized society is on our side - What other justification do you need?

[Try the truth]

05:29 PM on 03/01/2012

While I as a woman of color don't think people should have to wait for equality, I think we need to see if putting this on the plat form puts Dems at risk! If the GOP takes the WH and both houses we're all doomed!

[WhatWhat1]

06:47 PM on 03/01/2012

This scares the hell out of me. Pressing President Obama on this issue will surely lose him the independents - those who decide every election.
Better to take a page out of Washington Governor Gregoire's playbook and get it done after this fall's election.

[randallr01]

04:33 PM on 03/01/2012

Equality GO!

[Awake-and-Sing]

04:05 PM on 03/01/2012

I fully support this.

However, in all honest, how many people actually read a political parties platform from beginning to end, and base their vote on that, endorsing every single thing in that platform with their vote.

That said, building a platform came bring unity and understanding within a political party about what it stands for.

I fully support marriage equality as part of the Democratic Party platform. I shudder to think what right-wing extremism the "Tea Party" and "Christian Taliban" wings of the Republican Party are going to inflict on Mitt Romney this year.

[Jim281]

05:18 PM on 03/01/2012

Fav'd

that is EXACTLY why it is so important to the cause that there is SOME bipartisan support for this clarification of universal civil rights:

Ted Olsen; Dick Cheney; Laura Bush, Cindy McCain, and Meghan McCain, to name a few, have made their various public actions and words clear that they support this issue as a civil right. It is refreshing to see there are still a few conservatives who believe in Civil rights for ALL!

Finally, ONE ISSUE that is drawing some bipartisan support. (I may disagree with conservatives on most issues, but I DO APPRECIATE that these folks have made their support known through their public staements and actions. Thanks folks! (That's about as nice as I ever get for ANY R's, but I mean it sincerely!)

[KeyInfo]

03:58 PM on 03/01/2012

It's obvious that the Republicans are adamantly opposed to same sex marriage. Plus they seem to hate gays, the poor, the black, women, Latino's and the list goes on. But all that aside would one Conservative out there please tell me why it bothers you so much for two people of the same sex to get married. And let's leave the bible out of the conversation. If two people of the same sex got married how is that going to infringe on your rights or how is that going to even bother you? Please explain to me what I must be missing b/c I'm of the opinion if it doesn't bother me personally let em do it. Life's short let's all get along and be happy. If you're full of hatred and not happy, well you saw what happened to Andrew Bartbreight. He died of a hatred aneurysm.

[giftsthatpurr]

05:04 PM on 03/01/2012

Good question - I dolubt you'll get any real answer.

[WhatWhat1]

06:49 PM on 03/01/2012

Republicans would be against the sun rising if President Obama said he was for it. Thankfully, he's been rather disciplined on the matter.

[hungryaardvark]

03:49 PM on 03/01/2012

Please show some courage and add marriage equality to the Dem platform

One party stands for equality. The other for inequality, repression, discrimination and hate.

Don't be afraid to publicly show the difference.

Be PROUD of it.

[NWBrunette]

04:00 PM on 03/01/2012

Exactly. Well said.

[kaykaythere]

03:47 PM on 03/01/2012

I have been waiting my whole adult life for gay marriages to become a reality.

But I am also very realistic as to what the politics in the country are like. Should this make it on the Democratic Platform, the President will be labled the most RADICAL of left wingers. Perpetrating another War on Christianity, and he loses.

Right now, he is barely inching ahead of the GOP field that is a joke. Throw something like this into the mix, and the House, The Senate and THE WHITE HOUSE go to thd dark side again.

[GDWhiteman]

04:30 PM on 03/01/2012

I agree - however, I predict that Obama's "evolution" will complete long about Nov 8 and he will come out in favor of marriage equality. He's signaling already. AG Holder isn't declining to defend DOMA without O's say-so. Let the sleeping GOP dogs lie until after the election as we vote Dem's across the board.

[Return of PlayFair]

04:40 PM on 03/01/2012

I agree. I support marriage equality - but we need to get as many independents on board as possible, or we'll lose everything to the GOP. Pushing this now is bad timing.

[NWBrunette]

07:33 PM on 03/01/2012

Oh please. Find me one independent that's planning to vote for Obama who will change their mind if we put marriage equality in the platform. Really, get a grip.