The San Diego Democratic Club (SDDC) sent nine John Kerry delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Boston this week, which featured the most GLBT-inclusive Democratic party platform in history. The GLBT contingent at this year’s convention was also the largest in history.

“In California and more than a dozen other states, the Democratic Party set specific numerical goals for sending gay and lesbian delegates to the convention,” said Stephen Whitburn, president of the SDDC. “Because of this effort, and because Kerry-Edwards is the most LGBT-friendly presidential ticket in our nation’s history, hundreds of LGBT delegates went to the Democratic convention – more than ever before.”

GLBT issues addressed in this year’s platform include equal benefits and protections for GLBT families, workplace discrimination, eliminating “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, increased funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, hate crimes legislation, and opposing any amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would effectively ban same-sex marriage.

Local SDDC members who went to this year’s national convention include Laurie Black, Marty Block, Verna King, Gracia Molina de Pick, Marilyn Riley, Alex Sachs, Gerry Senda, Pat Washington and Ernie Barrera.

“The SDDC members at the convention represent a broad cross-section of our community, including gay, lesbian and straight members, people of color, young people and people who’ve seen many presidential elections,” Whitburn said. “I do hope that our future delegations will include members of the transgender community, and I would like to see the Democratic Party do more to specifically advocate for transgender inclusiveness. But it is miles ahead of the Republican Party in that area and Democrats are continuing to make progress.”

Additionally, seven SDDC members attended the National Stonewall Democrats convention, a gathering of representatives from GLBT Democratic clubs around the country, in Providence, R.I., July 23-25. Among them were former SDDC President Jess Durfee, Aida Mancillas, Maria Plasencia, Craig Roberts, Maureen Steiner, Sachs and Whitburn.

Whitburn said the NSD convention focused on getting out the GLBT vote for the November election, increasing the number of GLBT elected officials nationwide and working to make the Democratic Party even more GLBT-inclusive. Speakers included Senator Jack Reed, Rep. Barney Frank and two other openly gay Congress members, openly gay Providence Mayor David Cicilline and Chrissy Gephardt.

“My hope for this convention is that even more LGBT San Diegans unite behind John Kerry,” Whitburn said about the importance of the upcoming election and the GLBT vote. “The majority of people in our community are Democrats but there are some who don’t normally get involved in politics and there are also some Republicans. And I hope that they, too, are motivated to support Kerry after seeing for themselves how much better he will be for the LGBT community – and the nation as a whole – than the Bush administration.”