LGBTQ leaders back Biden-Harris Democratic ticket
More than 300 LGBTQ leaders are supporting the Democratic Party presidential nominee Joseph Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris as “the most pro-equality ticket in US history.”
This declaration was published in an op-ed published by USA Today. It had the byline of Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin.
LGBTQ leaders back Biden-Harris against Trump
In their piece, the two wrote about Biden: “He is a leader who has stood with the LGBTQ+ community for decades, offering compassion in our moments of uncertainty and policies to move us forward.”
“From the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to his historic declaration in support of marriage equality on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ in 2012, Biden has proven that he will listen to LGBTQ+ people when it counts,” they said.
The op-ed warned that under Trump, “Four more years of an administration that openly embraces racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and transphobic appointees and policies is untenable.”
They pointed out that the Trump-Pence administration has made consistent attacks on the “rights, healthcare and livelihoods” of LGBTQ people.
“Together, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris make the most pro-equality ticket in American history,” the op-ed declared.
Aside from David and Baldwin, the op-ed was signed by LGBTQ lawmakers and advocates like Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), among others.
Other LGBTQ leaders support Biden-Harris tandem
The Democratic National Convention’s (DNC) LGBTQ Caucus also voiced their support for Biden and Harris.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said, “The Trump administration has been anti-equality at every turn from military service, to right to discrimination laws.”
Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach, California, said Harris was “the real deal” and a “true ally.”
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said Trump “wants to discriminate against gay couples” and warned that “This administration– make no mistake– is dangerous and an enemy of our community.”
Meanwhile, Lori Lightfoot, mayor of Chicago, said, “We still have to be vigilant against discrimination, against hate and against anti-LGBTQ violence.”
LGBTQ Republican group still supporting Trump
Not surprisingly, the Log Cabin Republicans are endorsing Trump for reelection with its chairman Robert Kabel writing a separate op-ed in USA Today.
Kabel wrote, “Today, thanks in large part to the leadership of President Donald Trump, the party has delivered meaningful policy victories for gays and lesbians.”
He cited the Trump administration’s efforts to help HIV individuals and their push to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
“Trump announced during Pride Month in 2019 that his administration was launching a global campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality,” he further pointed out.
However, he said that for Trump’s second term, “the president must work to resolve the ongoing tension between LGBT Americans’ justified demands for equality and the concerns of religious conservatives.”
“Today, the GOP has proved itself to be the true party of equality,” Kabel said.