Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean has contradicted his party’s platform and infuriated gay rights advocates by saying the party’s platform states “marriage is between a man and a woman.”

“The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says marriage is between a man and a woman,” Dean said May 10 during a “700 Club” program hosted by conservative Christian leader Pat Robertson on his Christian Broadcasting Network.

That statement contradicts the Democratic National Committee’s official stance, which was adopted in 2004.

“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,” the platform says.

Gay organizations were quick to criticize Dean, saying this is just the latest in a series of gaffes the former Vermont governor has made on gay issues.

Neither Dean nor a spokesperson for the DNC could be reached for comment.

“Howard Dean puts his foot in his mouth so often that he should open a pedicure wing in the DNC during his tenure,” Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Guerriero said Wednesday. “Howard Dean’s positions on LGBT issues have changed more often than the weather in New England, where he’s from.”

Jo Wyrick, interim executive director of National Stonewall Democrats, a gay partisan group, noted Dean was not accurately representing the Democratic Party’s position.

“Democrats do not believe that the federal government should forcefully dictate family policy for individual states, as championed by congressional Republicans and the Bush administration,” she said in a statement. “Therefore, we strongly point out that Governor Dean incorrectly spoke when stating that the 2004 Democratic Party platform defines marriage as between a man and a woman.”

Within hours of the program’s broadcast, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force denounced Dean’s misrepresentation.

“Disturbingly, this is not the first time he has misrepresented this important and affirming plank [of the Democratic Party platform], and he has been asked before to correct the record and to cease making these misleading statements,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the Task Force.

“Governor Dean’s record on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues since becoming DNC chair has been sorely and sadly lacking,” Foreman said. “The Democratic Party chair should stand by and fight for the party’s own platform and values.”

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