Category Archives: Marriage Equality

YDA Executive Director endorses marriage equality in DNC platform

Posted by rsnyder on February 22, 2012 Comments Off

Today, Young Democrats of America’s Executive Director Emily Tisch Sussman joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and more than 13,000 voters around the nation in endorsing language proposed by Freedom to Marry as part of its Democrats: Say I Do campaign calling on the national party to include a freedom to marry plank in the national Democratic party’s 2012 platform.

“As the Executive Director of Young Democrats of America, I represent young people, and the way we connect young people back to Democratic politics is by speaking out for what is right and taking action,” Sussman said. “Polling shows that 70 percent of voters 18-34 support the freedom to marry, and for many of our members, it’s a cause that goes to the core of why they consider themselves Democrats. It is time to realize that marriage is no longer an effective wedge issue; it is a cause that we as Democrats should be leading on.”

The proposed plank language is as follows:

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. 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.

“As a constitutional lawyer with a background in LGBT family law and someone who worked on ending military discrimination under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I am proud to have signed onto Freedom to Marry’s petition and urge my fellow Democrats to do the same,” Sussman continued. “It’s time for our Party to make it official, and say ‘I Do’.”

Public opinion data from 2011 shows that 69 percent of Democrats support the freedom to marry, as well as 59 percent of Independents (Gallup, May 5-8). A National Journal Political Insiders Poll conducted in July 2011 showed that 84 percent of Democratic party professionals believe their party should embrace marriage. Multiple states have already included planks in support of marriage in their state platforms.


YDA Applauds Federal Court Decision on Marriage Equality

Posted by rsnyder on February 7, 2012 Comments Off

Since November 2008, the rights of Californian Same Sex Couples to enter into a legally binding marriage have been banned as a result of the passage of Proposition 8. This issue has been highly debated over the course of the last four years; however, today the Ninth U.S. District Court of Appeals has ruled 2-1 that the law is unconstitutional.

The Young Democrats of America in cooperation with the YDA LGBTQ Caucus and the California Young Democrats strongly applaud the decision of the Ninth U.S. District Court of Appeals. Kristian Cosme, Chair of the YDA LGBTQ Caucus provides the following statement: “The decision of the court today to uphold the original ruling of Judge Walker deeming Proposition 8 as unconstitutional is the right step in the battle for national marriage equality. It was the only ethical decision that could be made as it is the one that is most closely aligned with the spirit of equality and freedom that has laced our Constitution since our forefathers founded it.”

“The California Young Democrats were proud to vote HELL NO on Proposition 8, and we are thrilled that the court today found this deeply discriminatory law unconstitutional,” said Jennifer Longley, President of the California Young Democrats.

The Court in their written decision said Prop 8 “…served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationship and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples. The Constitution simply does not allow for “laws of this sort.”

“The Young Democrats of America applauds the ruling of the 9th District Court of Appeals as one that is fundamentally not a political ruling, but one that upholds the basic premise of our Constitution that all who are law abiding citizens of this nation are endowed by our Creator those unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As an organization, we will continue to advocate for fidelity to the Constitution when answering these questions of fairness and of basic human dignity as did President Abraham Lincoln, and continue to believe and offer as warning for those who will deride today’s ruling, that those who deny rights to others deserve it not for themselves,” said YDA Executive Vice President Colmon Elridge.

On behalf of the Young Democrats of America, we want to thank the California Young Democrats for their tireless efforts in fighting for marriage equality. Today’s decision in California helps pave the road to national marriage equality, but the fight will and must continue. Join us as together we continue to fight for equality for all citizens of this great nation.

 

YDA Caucus Chairs Voice Support for NY Marriage Equality

Posted by rsnyder on June 27, 2011 Comments Off

Additional reactions to Friday’s historic marriage equality victory in New York:

“The LGBT Caucus of the Young Democrats of America congratulates our friends in the Empire State for winning the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples.  Our thanks go out to all the coalition partners involved in this important victory.  In particular, our thanks to the state and local Young Democrats chapters in New York and their members who stood shoulder to shoulder with their friends in the LGBT movement — and other progressive constituencies — to secure the passage of marriage equality legislation in the State House, controlled by Democrats, and the votes of 29 Democrats and 4 Republicans in the State Senate.  Our gratitude goes out to Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo for leading the charge and not resting until gay and lesbian New Yorkers have the freedom to marry.”

- Kyle Bailey, YDA LGBT Caucus Chair

“The labor movement fought for equality, civil rights, and social justice. Today was a banner day for all of those core principles. In my home state of New York, both houses of state government have voted in affirmation of the Marriage Equality Act of 2011.  This bill, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, gives same sex couples the fundamental right to join in matrimony and enjoy all the legal protections that come with their union. While soon-to-be the 6th state to have enacted this law, New York now becomes the largest state to have done so and the only one with a branch of state legislature controlled by Republicans.  I stand together with my LGBT brothers and sisters in the happiness that New York has Marriage Equality and hope more states and indeed the nation will follow suit.”

- Michael Corbett, YDA Labor Caucus Chair

New York State Young Democrats Celebrate Marriage Equality

Posted by rsnyder on June 25, 2011 Comments Off

Last night, the New York State Young Democrats celebrated the historic vote on marriage equality.  NYSYD President Kevin Lawrie released the following statement on the important role that Young Democrats played in ensuring a favorable outcome for the legislation:

Tonight, we have helped make history. New York will soon become the 6th State in the US to legalize same-sex marriages after the bill passed the State Senate during an extended session in Albany. With your hard work, we have again achieved real results. From campaigning to flip 2 no votes into yes votes in November until the recent push to call your State Senator and either confirm or convince them to get on the right side of history, this would not have happened without any of your dedication and diligence.

Click here to read the full statement from the New York State Young Dems.