Democratic Party platform group backs gay marriage
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The national Democratic Party's platform committee has endorsed gay marriage for the first time.
The platform committee met Saturday in Detroit and let stand the work of a separate group that drafted the section two weeks ago in Minneapolis.
The document says Democrats support "marriage equality" and the "movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples." The platform is a broad statement of the party's priorities and next goes to the national convention next month in North Carolina.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Platform committee member Scott Dibble of Minnesota says support for gay marriage will attract young people to the Democratic Party. In May, President Barack Obama said he personally supported same-sex unions.
The platform also calls for repeal of a federal law that recognizes marriage as between a man and woman.