3 Resolutions for the Democratic Party

These resloutions need to be presented at the precinct caucus or conventions, the county and also the state.  If enough states pass these, then hopefully the national party will adopt them. 

RESOLUTION OPPOSING A FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

WHEREAS, we believe every Texan and every family has the right to participate fully and equally in American society and enjoy its benefits and freedoms. We believe the Constitution is intended to protect freedoms, not to be used as a tool to restrict freedoms or dictate social policy by forcing states to discriminate against groups of their own citizens based on race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. We believe free debate and discussion and the enforcement of civil rights have kept this country strong for more than 200 years. We believe it is wrong to write discrimination into the Constitution of the United States.

WHEREAS, in 2006 the United States Congress will once again attempt to pass a federal marriage amendment in an effort to write discrimination against same-gender couples into the United States Constitution;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party opposes a federal marriage amendment to the United States Constitution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party expresses its unequivocal support of marriage for same-gender couples as a fundamental right guaranteed by the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Adopted by Precinct #____ in Senatorial District #__ of _____ County, Texas on March 7, 2006.

__________

Precinct Chair #_____

_____ County, Texas

Telephone: _______

Sincerely,

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION

WHEREAS, the number of neglected and abused children placed in foster care each year, and the number of children awaiting adoption, far exceeds the number of available homes for placement, and

WHEREAS, foster care and adoption placements are best made on a case-by-case basis by qualified medical and legal authorities giving paramount consideration to the best interest of each child, and

WHEREAS, decades of studies and research have found that gay and lesbian parents are equally adept as heterosexual parents, and that children thrive in gay and lesbian-parented families. The APA reports, “Not a single study has found children of gay or lesbian parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents.”, and

WHEREAS, the majority of prominent children’s advocacy, mental health, and medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychological Association, Child Welfare League of America, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, North American Council on Adoptable Children, and the National Association of Social Workers support the ability of lesbian and gay families to adopt and foster children, and

WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents can and do provide loving and safe homes for children who would otherwise be placed in a severely overburdened foster care system, and

WHEREAS, a prohibition on LGBT foster care and adoption would needlessly diminish the number of available homes, and tear children away from nurturing families, thereby violating the rights and best interest of the child,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas ____ Party endorses policies that will protect all Texas families and children, including same-gender parented families, and will not restrict or eliminate LGBT families’ foster care or adoption rights.

Adopted by Precinct #____ in Senatorial District #___ of _____ County, Texas on March 7, 2006.

__________

Precinct Chair #_____

_____ County, Texas Telephone: _______

Sincerely,

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING STATEWIDE SAFE SCHOOLS POLICY

WHEREAS, the state of Texas recognizes that providing a quality public education is the foundation of a strong state, and

WHEREAS, Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code prohibits harassment defined as “threatening to cause harm or bodily injury to another student, engaging in sexually intimidating conduct, causing physical damage to the property of another student, subjecting another student to physical confinement or restraint, or maliciously taking any action that substantially harms another student’s physical or emotional health and safety.”

WHEREAS, the current state policy fails to enumerate and prohibit the most-frequently cited causes of harassment in schools, which are: physical appearance (36%), race or ethnicity (14%), gender identification (13%), sexual orientation (13%), ability (7%), family income (5%), and religion (2%).

WHEREAS, a statewide policy can be implemented to provide for Safe Schools and protection against harassment based upon all causes, and

WHEREAS, this legislation would create an environment that would prevent and punish harassment of students for any reason, and this policy would create a better educational environment,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas ____ Party formally endorses a statewide Safe Schools policy that prohibits harassment based upon race, religion, ethnicity, physical appearance, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, ability, or economic status.

Adopted by Precinct #____ in Senatorial District #__ of _____ County, Texas on March 7, 2006.

__________

Precinct Chair #_____

_____ County, Texas

Telephone: ________

Sincerely,

With the last one, you would need to look up statistics for your Own state if you live anywhere but Texas and also change the wording about the state on all three.  We need to protect our youth and demand that schools are a safe place for all children.  There will be other resolutions that I am going to recommend but I am waiting for the different groups I belong to draft them.