Affirming Equality

The Young Democrats of America Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus recognizes the strength of America's diverse citizenry with respect to sexual orientation. Furthermore, we recognize the professional, civic, and political contributions of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender persons toward the betterment of our nation.

In order to ensure equal opportunity amongst persons of all sexual orientations in the United States, the Young Democrats of America Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus affirms the following principles:

Discrimination against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered persons because of their sexual orientation in matters of housing, employment, and public accommodation is a violation of the social compact embodied in the United States Constitution which empowers all citizens with "the power of enjoying in safety and tranquility their natural rights, and the blessings of life." Such discrimination should be illegal under federal law.

Domestic partnership laws which provide identical privileges to married couples and same-gender couples in long-term committed relationships help build strong families and contribute to stable communities. In particular, Gay and Lesbian government employees should be provided with fringe benefits that recognize domestic partners as equivalent to spouses. Furthermore, same-gender marriages that are performed in and sanctioned by one state should be recognized as legal marriages in all other states.

Violence committed against persons because of their sexual orientation is motivated by bias against unchangeable qualities of a person's physical identity. Consequently, such violence should be punishable under federal law as a hate crime, with penalties equal to those mandated for racially-motivated violence.