1980. Politics: US Democrats add gay rights to their platform
As we know only too well, getting the support of political parties for LGBT rights can be (and has been) a long and arduous process. Such was the case with the United States Democratic Party, which had debated the issue for a number of years before finally incorporating LGBT rights into its political platform in 1980.
The first signs of movement were in 1972 when openly LGBT speakers Madeline Davis and Jim Foster were allowed to address the Democratic National Convention. The mere fact that this happened is a reflection of the increasing levels of LGBT political organisation across the country.
In the 60s and 70s, for example, LGBT political candidates were largely restricted to local campaigns in areas with high queer populations, such as San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. But it soon became clear to both the candidates and the Democratic Party that LGBT voters could have significant political clout. In consequence, LGBT rights moved increasingly onto the national political agenda.
Of course it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Despite Davis and Foster’s ground-breaking speeches in 1972, there were still many in the Party who feared that LGBT rights would be a vote-loser. For example, another speaker at the 1972 convention – Kathy Wilch – made a particularly hostile speech and this resulted in LGBT rights being kept off the Democratic political agenda.
Whilst Wilch’s speech served to delay the Democrats commitment to LGBT rights, it also served to galvanise LGBT activists within and outside of the Democratic Party. And Davis and Foster’s speeches did manage to flag up to non-LGBT politicians the importance of the LGBT vote. So much so, that Democrat Presidential candidate George McGovern quickly issued a statement distancing himself from Wilch’s position.
Four years later, Jimmy Carter also pursued the LGBT vote during his Presidential campaign and met with LGBT community leaders following his election. (Sadly, he failed to deliver on his election promises).
And so the momentum continued to grow and LGBT rights were again brought to the Democratic Convention in 1980; this time with considerably more success. In practice this meant little more than amending their anti-discrimination statement to include sexual orientation. But it was at least a starting point upon which to build.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
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