The Davidson County Democratic Party has joined the Shelby County Democratic Party in urging Tennesseans to "vote no on 1" in the Nov. 7 election.
The resolution was adopted by Davidson County Democratic Party leaders on Sept. 26. and is posted on their Web site. The two county parties join the National Democratic Party in opposing the constitutional amendment which would be the first amendment to write discrimination into the State Constitution.
The resolution, as it appears on the Davidson County Democratic Party Web site, reads:
DAVIDSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On November 7, 2006, Tennessee voters will go to the polls to vote on whether or not to amend the Tennessee State Constitution to prohibit same gender marriage by the adoption of Amendment 1 (the text of which is set out in full as an attachment to this resolution.);
and WHEREAS, the Tennessee Constitution was adopted in 1870 without any language discriminating against any group of Tennesseans and has never, heretofore, been amended to include language that expressly denies equal treatment to any group of Tennesseans;
and WHEREAS, the position of the Democratic Party in opposition to the adoption of Federal and State constitutional amendments prohibiting same gender marriage is on record through the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee as follows: "…Because Democrats value all families, we are committed to the fundamental principle that every American has the right to live in dignity, with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law.…Republicans in Washington are …scapegoating LGBT families for partisan gain.”
"This is morally wrong, and it hurts LGBT Americans. Democrats are committed to fighting this hateful, divisive amendment and to fighting similarly discriminatory ballot initiatives in states across the country. We strongly oppose any attempt to write discrimination into law whether it be at the local or state levels or in the United States Constitution." (Chairman Howard Dean, Proclamation 6/1/06);
and WHEREAS, the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Democratic Party wishes to join the National Democratic Party in its opposition to writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution by opposing the adoption of Amendment 1;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that all Tennessee voters are hereby urged to oppose the attempt to write discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution through proposed Amendment 1 by voting “NO” against the adoption of Amendment 1 during early voting or on election day, November 7, 2006;
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be adopted and recorded in the minutes of the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Democratic Party;
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Officers and committee members and each of them are hereby authorized to publicize this resolution as appropriate, including, without limitation, its publication on the website of the Davidson County Democratic Party and the websites of other organizations opposing the adoption of Amendment 1.
ADOPTED, this 26 th day of September, 2006
