DNC Chair Predicts Marriage Equality Inclusion For Democratic Platform

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says she plans on seeing marriage equality included in her party's official policy platform.

"I expect marriage equality to be a plank in the national party platform," the Florida Representative told Philadelphia Gay News. "Now, our platform committee process is a people-powered process. We have a platform committee and the platform is developed by our Democratic activists and the platform committee members, so they’ll go through a process. I hope that marriage equality, and expect that marriage equality, will be part of our platform."

Rep. Wasserman Schultz also said that while many Democrats remain committed to passing a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, groundwork needs to be in place before a serious effort can get going. "Just like what we went through with the hate-crimes law, in order to make sure that we could pass an inclusive hate-crimes law — we had to go through the community — we had to go through an education process. There had to be more outreach," she explained.

"We’ve been going through the same process with ENDA. I think really the last barrier to achieving ENDA is making sure that we have a Democratic majority in Congress so that we can send it to President Barack Obama for his signature. We have a Republican Congress that is so extreme."

As for whether the party will specifically help lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin win her Senatorial race, Wasserman-Schutlz says that's a question for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, but promised "Tammy Baldwin is going to be the next U.S. senator from Wisconsin."

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Rep. Allen West Tells Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Democrats to 'Get the Hell Out' of America: VIDEO

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), who has appeared on Towleroad for his anti-gay statements regarding marriage, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and his views that homosexuality is a behavior like choosing an ice cream flavor or riding a scooter, was speaking before the Palm Beach Republican Party over the weekend.

West trashed the "Democrat" party, telling Obama and progressive leaders to "get the hell out" of America:

"This is a battlefield, that we must stand upon. We need to let President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, (audience boos) and my dear friend the chairman of the Democrat National Committee, we need to let them know that Florida ain't on the table. Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America...Yeah, I said 'hell'"

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Breaks Down at Farewell for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: VIDEO

Congress bid farewell this morning to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz broke down as she said good-bye and read aloud Giffords' resignation letter. Giffords then presented her letter to weeping House Speaker John Boehner.

Watch the emotional ceremony, AFTER THE JUMP...

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Calls Santorum's Anti-Gay Marriage Plan 'Inappropriate and Unacceptable': VIDEO

Speaking off the cuff to a YouTuber with a camera, Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz offers her thoughts about the Iowa caucuses and Rick Santorum's plans to invalidate same-sex marriage.

Says Wasserman Schultz of Santorum's plans for a federal marriage amendment: "That would be un-American, un-Democratic and entirely inappropriate and unacceptable."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via jmg)

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Calls for Immigration Equality: VIDEO

Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke at an Immigration Equality fundraiser in Washington, D.C. yesterday and spoke about the issues same-sex binational couples face under DOMA, reports Michael Lavers at Boy in Bushwick.

Adds Lavers:

Following her speech, Wasserman Schultz conceded that she is not confident that UAFA would become law before the end of this Congress. She also blasted Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain for asserting that homosexuality is a choice during his appearance on "The View" earlier in the day.

Watch Wasserman Schultz's speech, AFTER THE JUMP...