Democratic Platform: Key Excerpts for LGBTQ+ and Gender Justice Advocates
Once again, I’ve created something for my own reference that I hope might be useful to others.
In this Google Doc are selected excerpts from the 2020 Democratic Party Platform [1] (prior, of course, to its final adoption later this week), with a focus on portions I think are particularly relevant for LGBTQ+ and other gender justice advocates. The importance of party platforms to public policy is very easy to overstate, but for those of us in the weeds of developing and advocating priorities for the next Administration and Congress, it’s one significant marker among many.
I’ve tried to highlight:
Policy proposals that are specifically LGBTQ+ inclusive or LGBTQ+ focused. There are a lot of critical issues mentioned and a lot of hugely important, specific commitments here.
Policy proposals that should have an LGBTQ+ specific focus or element, but for which that is not mentioned in the Platform. My point is not so much that the Platform is lacking here, but that policymakers and advocates need to ensure inclusion in adopting and implementing these policies.
Policy proposals that appear to differ from, or fall short of, bold approaches urged by many progressives and civil rights advocates.
My selections, sticking largely to policy specifics and totaling less than 20% of the full Platform’s word count, are highly debatable but hopefully helpful.[3] What do you see—or not see—that stands out? Unsurprisingly, the Platform largely tracks the presidential nominee’s various policy plans, but you see any significant differences? [2]
I’m just looking at the Democrats’ platform here for so many reasons, including that there is no new Republican platform this year.
Please note: for simplicity I’ve left out discussion of one huge front-and-center issue—universal health coverage—that takes up significant space and has perhaps been the most-discussed element of the Platform.
I’ve tried to keep the focus on policy here—highlighting and commenting what this particular document does and doesn’t say about specific issues—rather than making a case for or against the party’s Platform or candidates overall. The reader will be the judge on that.