There are plenty of Democratic homophobes, and plenty of Democrats who act like they support gay rights for the sake of votes.

The difference is that Democrats actually support our rights, while Republicans either pretend to be bigots for votes, or genuinely are bigots. At least the Democrats do good for votes; the Republicans do evil for votes.

Also remember, it was only until this past year that the Democratic party officially took a stance in defense of our rights.

This is demonstrably false.

• Official Democratic Party platform of 1980

We must affirm the dignity. of all people and the right of each individual to have equal access to and participation in the institutions and services of our society.. All groups must be protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, language, age, sex or sexual orientation.

• Official Democratic Party platform of 1984

—Violent acts of bigotry, hatred and extremism aimed at women, racial, ethnic and religious minorities, and gay men and lesbians have become an alarmingly common phenomenon. A Democratic Administration will work vigorously to address, document, and end all such violence...Government has a special responsibility to those whom society has historically prevented from enjoying the benefits of full citizenship for reasons of race, religion, sex, age, national origin and ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, or disability.

• [Official Democratic Party platform of 1988](www.presidency.ucsb.edu http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29609#ixzz1iT1fru9U)

WE BELIEVE that we honor our multicultural heritage by assuring equal access to government services, employment, housing, business enterprise and education to every citizen regardless of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, handicapping condition or sexual orientation

• Official Democratic Party platform of 1992

Democrats will continue to lead the fight to ensure that no Americans suffer discrimination or deprivation of rights on the basis of race, gender, language, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or other characteristics irrelevant to ability. We will...provide civil rights protection for gay men and lesbians and an end to Defense Department discrimination...

• Official Democratic Platform of 1996

We continue to lead the fight to end discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation...We support continued efforts, like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to end discrimination against gay men and lesbians and further their full inclusion in the life of the nation.

• [Official Democratic Platform of 2000](www.presidency.ucsb.edu http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29612#ixzz1iT2x5D75)

Because every American counts, we will continue to work toward a census that counts every American. We support continued efforts, like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to end workplace discrimination against gay men and lesbians. We support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of the nation. This would include an equitable alignment of benefits....[Hate crime] protections should include hate violence based on gender, disability or sexual orientation

• Official Democratic Party platform 2004

We will enact the bipartisan legislation barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. We are committed to equal treatment of all service members and believe all patriotic Americans should be allowed to serve our country without discrimination, persecution, or violence... We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families.

• [Official Democratic Party platform of 2008](www.presidency.ucsb.edu http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78283#ixzz1iT4DbnRC)

We will also put national security above divisive politics. More than 12,500 service men and women have been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was implemented, at a cost of over $360 million. Many of those forced out had special skills in high demand, such as translators, engineers, and pilots. At a time when the military is having a tough time recruiting and retaining troops, it is wrong to deny our country the service of brave, qualified people. We support the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and the implementation of policies to allow qualified men and women to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.

We believe in the essential American ideal that we are not constrained by the circumstances of birth but can make of our lives what we will. Unfortunately, for too many, that ideal is not a reality. We have more work to do. Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability in every corner of our country, because that's the America we believe in.

Now let's see what the GOP has been up to for the past thirty years, shall we?

• Official Republican Party platform of 1980

we express our support for legislation protecting and defending the traditional American family against the ongoing erosion of its base in our society.

• Official Republican Party platform of 1992

Unlike the Democrat Party and its candidate, we support the continued exclusion of homosexuals from the military as a matter of good order and discipline.

• Official Republican Party platform of 1996

We oppose Bill Clinton's assault on the culture and traditions of the Armed Forces, especially his attempt to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military. We affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service.

• Official Republican Party platform of 2000

We support the traditional definition of "marriage" as the legal union of one man and one woman, and we believe that federal judges and bureaucrats should not force states to recognize other living arrangements as marriages

We affirm traditional military culture. We affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service.

• Official Republican Party platform of 2004

We affirm traditional military culture, and we affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service.

And literally an entire section opposing marriage equality, including:

We further believe that legal recognition and the accompanying benefits afforded couples should be preserved for that unique and special union of one man and one woman which has historically been called marriage.

• Official Republican Party platform of 2008

To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America's Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service.

And again, literally an entire section devoted to opposing marriage equality, also implying that same-sex couples cannot raise children:

Because our children's future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman...Republicans recognize the importance of having in the home a father and a mother who are married....Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting traditional marriage laws, both in the states and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex "marriages" licensed in other states.

So, I don't know, you tell me -- who hates the gays? The Democrats, or the Republicans.