Same-sex marriage advances in DNC platform

A committee developing the Democratic Party platform for 2012 has approved language supporting same-sex marriage, multiple reports in Washington indicated. Citing a source it did not identify, The Hill reported Monday the committee approved the language Sunday. The Capitol Hill publication said the decision likely means the Democratic National Convention platform will include strong support for same-sex marriage. A Democratic Party source said the draft language next will be considered by another committee in Detroit in two weeks, and will then be put before the full convention in Charlotte, N.C., for final approval. The language approved Sunday includes opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act, enacted during the administration of former President Bill Clinton. The Obama administration has stopped defending the constitutionality of that law. President Barack Obama this year endorsed same-sex marriage, several days after Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview he supported same-sex marriage. Shortly after that, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Democratic Party platform will support same-sex marriage, The Hill reported. "The president's in favor of it -- I'm sure it will be [included]," Reid said.