5 notable provisions in the Democratic Party platform
![Pro-choice and anti-abortion demonstrators gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2022.](https://cdn.christianpost.com/images/cache/image/14/56/145615_w_700_467.jpg)
2. Unapologetically embraces progressive agenda on abortion, LGBT issues
While the Republican Party Platform received criticism from pro-life leaders for significantly watering down the section highlighting the party’s position on abortion, the Democratic Party platform includes nearly two pages devoted to “reproductive rights.” Expressing outrage about the 2022 reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, the document declares, “President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats are committed to restoring the reproductive rights Trump ripped away.”
Specific policy proposals include “national legislation to make Roe the law of the land again,” strengthening “access to contraception so every woman who needs it is able to get and afford it,” protection of “a woman’s right to access [in-vitro fertilization]” and repeal of the Hyde Amendment that prevents the use of federal taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. The document stresses that the pro-abortion policy proposals are contingent upon Democrats having full control of Congress.
According to the platform, “In his second term, President Biden will continue to support access to [Food and Drug Administration]-approved medication abortion, appoint leaders at the FDA who respect science, and appoint judges who uphold fundamental freedoms.” The document calls for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, which pro-life advocates see as an attempt to create a right to abortion.
On LGBT issues, Democrats vow to pass the Equality Act, which critics warn could lead to the mandatory inclusion of trans-identified males on women’s sports teams as well as business owners and businesses finding themselves forced to violate their deeply held beliefs about gender and sexuality in order to comply with LGBT-nondiscrimination provisions.
Referring to laws prohibiting body-mutilating sex-change procedures on youth who are confused about their sex, the platform contends that “Democrats will vigorously oppose state and federal bans on gender-affirming health care and respect the role of parents, families, and doctors – not politicians – in making health care decisions.”
It also condemns “book bans that censor LGBTQI+ content” and envisions “building on President Biden’s historic actions to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy.’”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com