Democrats to include support for gay marriage in official policy platform

The Democratic Party is moving to include support for gay marriage in the official party policy statement for the first time, a Democratic official said Monday, marking a key milestone for advocates of same-sex unions.

The party's platform drafting committee voted to include language backing gay marriage during a weekend meeting in Minneapolis, the official said.

Democratic delegates will formally approve the platform during the party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in early September.

The Democratic platform committee's move was first reported by the Washington Blade, a lesbian and gay newspaper.

President Obama will officially accept his party's nomination at the convention. Rival Mitt Romney will get the Republican nomination a week earlier during his party's convention in Tampa, Florida.

Seeking to ramp up enthusiasm among Democrats, party officials said on Sunday that former President Bill Clinton will deliver the nominating speech on Wednesday night of the convention. Obama and vice-president Joe Biden are to speak on Thursday, the convention's final night.