WHEREAS, the highest judicial courts of the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa have decided that these states' respective bans on same-sex marriage violated the guarantee of equal protection under the law found in these states' respective constitutions; and
WHEREAS, the Vermont General Assembly passed a bill to remove discrimination from Vermont's marriage laws and subsequently overrode the Governor's veto on this bill, thus granting equal protection under the law; and
WHEREAS, the Maine Legislature also passed a bill to remove discrimination from Maine's marriage laws, and the Governor signed the bill into law, thus granting equal protection under the law; and
WHEREAS, the New Hampshire State Legislature, known as the New Hampshire General Court, also passed a bill to remove discrimination from New Hampshire's marriage laws, and the Governor has made a deal agreed with the General Court to sign the bill into law if it is amended to provide for broader protections for religious organizations, thus granting equal protection under the law; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of New York has introduced a bill to the New York Legislature to remove discrimination from New York's marriage laws, and the New York State Assembly has passed the bill, thus sending it to the New York State Senate and moving New York closer towards granting equal protection under the law; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the District of Columbia has voted to allow recognition of same-sex marriages contracted elsewhere in the United States, thus moving closer towards granting equal protection under the law; and
WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Klamath County is committed to equal rights and protections for all citizens under the law; now
THEREFORE, the Democratic Party of Klamath County recognizes and commends the above-mentioned states, and the District of Columbia, for their progress toward the establishment of laws that promote equality before the law and the protection of human rights for all citizens.