Gay delegates to hold key positions at Democratic convention
The executive committee of the US Democratic party’s National Committee has approved seven LGBT delegates to three important standing committees.
The convention in Denver from August 25th to 28th will formally choose the party’s candidate for President of the United States.
The Advocate reports that prominent LGBT party members have been appointed to the platform, rules, and credentials committees.
In August 2006 the Democratic National Committee agreed delegate selection rules that ensured greater gay and lesbian representation at the 2008 convention.
In all 25 delegates have been selected to serve on the standing committees.
The Presidential election will be held on November 4th and the new President will take office on January 20th 2009.
Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are the frontrunners to win the Democratic party nomination.
In practice the winner should be known by March after the majority of states have declared their choice of nominee through primary elections or caucuses.
The introduction of new rules in 2006 moved the state parties into deeper partnerships with LGBT Democrats by compelling them to take action about under-representation.
National Stonewall Democrats (NSD), the organisation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender party activists, provided assistance to state parties and ran training programmes for LGBT delegates to ensure they can participate fully.
