 The freedom to marry is a hit at the Democratic National Convention. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, a primary this Tuesday pits a pro-equality Democrat against an anti-equality incumbent. Conservatives unveil their version of a civil unions bill, and Scotland is on track to debate marriage equality in the coming months. All that plus we could be just two weeks away from a major Supreme Court decision in the Prop 8 case. At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I'm Matt Bowne, and welcome to Marriage News Watch for September 10th, 2012. Here's another sign of America's amazing progress on the freedom to marry. This week, the Democratic Party affirmed marriage as an official plank in the party platform. The platform says, We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. It goes on, we support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. Meanwhile, a new survey out this week shows that 7 in 10 constitutional law professors believe that DOMA is unconstitutional. DOMA will likely be taken up by the Supreme Court very soon. The court's term starts in October, and the justices have already been asked to weigh in on multiple DOMA cases. They'll also have an opportunity to hear AFER's case to overturn Prop 8. We could know as soon as September 25th whether or not they'll take our case. Turning to the states, Rhode Island faces an important primary on Tuesday, September 11th. That race pits Laura Pizzatturo, an out lesbian, against anti-equality incumbent Michael McCaffrey. McCaffrey is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would vote on any future marriage legislation. If Pizzatturo wins the primary, it would remove a major obstacle to marriage equality in Rhode Island. A 2009 survey there shows that 60 percent of residents favor the freedom to marry to just 31 percent opposed. A bill in California that would clarify religious exemptions to marriage equality has passed the assembly by a wide margin. The bill, sponsored by Senator Mark Leno, is intended to neutralize our opponent's claim that marriage equality would force clergy to perform marriages against their wishes. In international news, Poland's largest conservative party has announced civil union legislation. The move comes just a month after parliament rejected a civil union bill without debate. Also this week, the Scottish National Party unveiled its marriage bill, it now faces debate and a vote at some point in the next year, and then a referendum in 2014. The soonest couples would be allowed to marry is the beginning of 2015. And following a survey that shows widespread support in Chile, LGBT advocates there have presented a marriage lawsuit to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Among the attorneys representing gay couples is Hunter T. Carter, a former advisor to Hillary Clinton on Latin America. Finally, we're just a few weeks away from some major Supreme Court news on the fight to overturn Prop 8. Visit AFER.org to sign up for breaking news alerts and be the first to know. At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I'm Matt Baume, we'll see you next week.