By JUSTIN FLIPPEN

As a former official voting delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, I’m proud to see the Party of the People continue to stand for the equality of ALL the people of our nation, and move towards adopting marriage equality in the official party platform. Democrats recognize that our national community is truly a family and has many members, including LGBT Americans. President Obama’s leadership on—and the Democratic support of—LGBT equality are unparalleled in history.

The passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, legal efforts to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the advocacy that we LGBT Americans have the right to civil marriage and an equal and full seat at the table of American society, are all a direct result of persistent and successful efforts of grassroots and equality advocates, President Obama’s leadership, and Democratic congressional support.

Democratic support of LGBT equality, economic relief for the middle class, protection of our environment and national resources, development of clean and renewable energy, social justice, civil rights, and women’s rights are just a few of the important reasons to support the Democratic Party.

In 2012, we voting Americans owe a duty to ourselves and our posterity to re-elect President Obama, and to re-elect and elect Democrats to the Senate and House of Representatives.

Justin Flippen is a native South Floridian and the former Vice Mayor of Wilton Manors. He currently works for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau promoting tourism-based economic development and marketing.