SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON INCLUSION OF GAY MARRIAGE PLANK IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement in response to news that Democrats are set to include a pro-gay marriage plank in their convention platform for the first time in history. In February, Senator Shaheen became the first U.S. Senator to join Freedom to Marry and over 24,000 Americans in calling on the Democratic Party to affirm the freedom to marry in the party's national convention platform this September.

“Equality and freedom are at the core of who we are as Americans, and that means freedom for all of us, not just some of us.  Our party has long been a leader on issues of justice and this reaffirms to the country that we are working on behalf of all our families, gay and straight. I am proud to see the Democrats take an important step in standing up for the rights of same-sex couples. I urge the full platform committee to adopt this pro-gay marriage plank in August.”