In a significant show of support, major LGBTQ+ organizations and leaders have rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris as she embarks on her historic bid for the White House. This backing highlights Harris’s commendable record on LGBTQ+ rights, forged over a decades-long political career, and underscores the potential impact of her presidency on the community.

 

Brandon Wolf, press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a prominent national LGBTQ+ advocacy group that has endorsed Harris, said, “Kamala Harris was a supporter of LGBTQ+ people when that was not an easy thing to do politically.” This sentiment is rooted in Harris’s actions during her tenure as San Francisco’s district attorney when she officiated some of the nation’s first same-sex marriage ceremonies during the city’s “Winter of Love” in 2004.

 

Later, as California’s attorney general, Harris made a decisive stand by refusing to defend Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage, in court. She actively advocated for the repeal of the amendment in 2013, which the Supreme Court eventually struck down later that year. Harris’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights extended further when, as San Francisco’s district attorney, she established a hate crimes unit specifically to investigate crimes against LGBTQ+ children and teens in schools. She also played a pivotal role in making California the first state to ban the use of the gay and transgender “panic” defense, a legal strategy that allowed individuals accused of violent crimes to receive lesser sentences by claiming that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity caused them to panic.

 

In 2017, as a California senator, Harris co-sponsored the Senate’s Equality Act, a landmark proposal aimed at amending existing federal antidiscrimination laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. A 2019 bill introduced by Harris sought to mandate private health plans to cover prescription HIV prevention medications, screenings, and clinical follow-ups.

 

Despite her strong advocacy, Harris has faced criticism regarding her stance on transgender rights. In 2015, as California attorney general, she worked to block a transgender woman in a state prison from receiving gender-affirming surgery. During her first presidential run in 2019, Harris acknowledged the criticism and said she took “full responsibility” for her actions in the case, adding that she worked “behind the scenes” to get the California Department of Corrections to change its policy of denying transgender inmates gender-affirming care.

 

Shelby Chestnut, executive director of the Transgender Law Center, which defended the woman, Michelle Norsworthy, in court, said, “Certainly, her stance on the case was discouraging and harmful to trans people in the state at the time, and there’s no question how devastating it was for our client. But we also have to put it in the context that in subsequent years, in various different positions, she has done a lot to impact the trans community and stay on their side.”

 

In the Senate, Harris helped push for accountability in the death of Roxsana Hernandez, a transgender Honduran woman who died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2018. Chestnut noted, “She really took the opportunity to push for accountability in Roxsana’s death, which is critical, and that’s how we get change.” Hernandez’s death remains under investigation.

 

Harris has also faced backlash for her support of FOSTA-SESTA, a 2018 law addressing sex trafficking. The law, which makes it easier for law enforcement agencies to go after websites facilitating sex trafficking, has also targeted consensual sex work, affecting an industry where LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender individuals, are disproportionately represented.

 

Her support for the Biden administration’s policies on the Israel-Hamas war has isolated some LGBTQ+ voters who consider the conflict a significant voting issue. Tensions flared during Pride Month events across the U.S. this year, with boycotts and demonstrations revealing deep divisions within the community. Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Harris stated that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas but also emphasized that she “will not be silent” on Palestinian suffering. She condemned protests over Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress, highlighting the complexity of navigating international conflict issues while maintaining a strong stance on human rights.

 

Transgender Americans have also expressed hesitancy over the Biden administration’s initial opposition to gender-affirming surgeries for minors, a statement that surprised supporters and angered major LGBTQ+ rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign. The administration later clarified that it does not support state or national bans on gender-affirming care, asserting that “families should have the freedom to make the medical decisions that they and their doctors determine are best for them.” It is important to note that gender-affirming surgeries are typically not recommended for transgender youths under 18, and genital, or “bottom” surgery, is never available to minors.

 

Despite these controversies, the Biden administration has made significant strides in advancing LGBTQ+ rights over the past four years. President Biden, who suspended his own reelection campaign last week, frequently touts his and Harris’s administration as the most pro-LGBTQ+ in history. Wolf of the Human Rights Campaign stressed that voters should consider the “totality of [Harris’s] record” if she is confirmed as the party’s official nominee at the upcoming Democratic National Convention. He also emphasized the stark contrast between Harris and her opponent, former President Donald Trump. Trump has promised to enact at least a dozen policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community if he is reelected, including a nationwide ban on transgender student-athletes competing according to their gender identity and a federal law recognizing only two genders.

 

Trump has also vowed to punish doctors who administer gender-affirming care to minors, roll back new LGBTQ+ student protections instituted by the Biden administration, and cut federal funding for schools accommodating transgender students. Meanwhile, Trump’s running mate, Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance, has championed legislation in the Senate to make providing gender-affirming medical care to transgender minors a felony and ban “X” gender markers on U.S. passports. Vance has also propagated the false and inflammatory claim that LGBTQ+ people are “grooming” children to abuse them, and during his 2022 Senate campaign, he opposed legislation safeguarding marriage equality. Wolf remarked, “The contrast really could not be clearer.”

 

Prominent LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations swiftly lined up behind Harris following her formal announcement of her White House bid on Sunday. A fundraising call hosted Thursday evening by the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and other state and national organizations raised over $300,000 for Harris and registered 1,500 campaign volunteers. This overwhelming support underscores the community’s belief in Harris’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and their hope for a future where those rights continue to be protected and expanded.

 

Credit: Hill  2024-07-31

 

 

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Is this the most unsurprising news in 2024 ?

It would only be newsworthy if they changed to supporting Donald 

The youth vote won by Biden made the difference as it will be this election along with woman.

The internet has gone crazy with Harris on TikTok:

 

Vice President Kamala Harris has joined TikTok, quickly amassing 100000 followers and over 5.8 million views on her debut video.

 

https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/kamala-harris-is-on-tiktok-here-are-5-most-followed-politician-accounts-on-the-platform-article-112052673

 

 

10 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Is this the most unsurprising news in 2024 ?

It would only be newsworthy if they changed to supporting Donald 

Join in and get with her before it is too late for you

It seems Trump even wants the infirm to just die........😱

 

 

4 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Join in and get with her before it is too late for you

 

 Kamala Harris will never be MY President , ever 

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

 Kamala Harris will never be MY President , ever 

Not mine either, thank god Im not American 😄

 

But Harris before Trump!

Yes I mean everybody should get behind this Indian Hispanic Black woman, now that we have decided to run on the black ethnic ticket. Honestly this woman has used more ethnic heritage cards than Biden still has brain cells

 

My biggest question is : Will Biden be they handing over the keys of the white house to Trump or claim he covid for the 20th time ? 

Edited July 31, 20241 yr by RichardColeman

Am I surprised? Harris got 3% in the primaries, and now, by a fluke, gets a shot at POTUS. Does anyone believe she did not get VP coz she's black and a woman?  As for LBGTQ+++ they are a noisy minority.

Harris is still enjoying the honeymoon period.

 

She hasn't had to speak yet.

 

Once she does the chances of the first DEI hire as president will plummet. 

 

America might need to wait a bit for it's first female Indian President. 

Another reason to vote for Trump.

1 hour ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Vice President Kamala Harris has joined TikTok, quickly amassing 100000 followers and over 5.8 million views on her debut video.

 

https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/kamala-harris-is-on-tiktok-here-are-5-most-followed-politician-accounts-on-the-platform-article-112052673

 

 

 

I'd bet $50 that Kamala doesn't even know how to set up a TikTok account, and that every post is carefully curated by her handlers.

 

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

I'd bet $50 that Kamala doesn't even know how to set up a TikTok account, and that every post is carefully curated by her handlers.

 

All in

11 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

All in

 

I guess you're not enjoying the hypocrisy of banning TikTok on gub'ment devices, as a national security threat, then embracing it for her election campaign.

 

It'll be interesting to see how that works out...

 

4 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I guess you're not enjoying the hypocrisy of banning TikTok on gub'ment devices, as a national security threat, then embracing it for her election campaign.

 

It'll be interesting to see how that works out...

 

My take on it is GF has 2733 followers and has never been too computer literate

Also here in Thailad it is the top online seller

Edited July 31, 20241 yr by earlinclaifornia

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

 Kamala Harris will never be MY President , ever 

Are you British?

50 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Another reason to vote for Trump.

As if you or all the Z good buddies in Moscow needed another.

So you're proud of being anti gay?

Quelle surprise.

27 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I guess you're not enjoying the hypocrisy of banning TikTok on gub'ment devices, as a national security threat, then embracing it for her election campaign.

 

It'll be interesting to see how that works out...

 

If that's your big issue just concede defeat now.

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes I mean everybody should get behind this Indian Hispanic Black woman, now that we have decided to run on the black ethnic ticket. Honestly this woman has used more ethnic heritage cards than Biden still has brain cells

 

My biggest question is : Will Biden be they handing over the keys of the white house to Trump or claim he covid for the 20th time ? 

According to insane Trump and his maga cult he never stopped being president.

Surprise, surprise....

5 hours ago, transam said:

It seems Trump even wants the infirm to just die........😱

 

 

Reminiscent of Hitler's efforts to create a so-called "Aryan" race, the euthanasia of individuals with mental and physical disabilities was in line with his ideology of "racial hygiene." This sought to purify the German gene pool by eliminating those considered unfit.

2 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Reminiscent of Hitler's efforts to create a so-called "Aryan" race, the euthanasia of individuals with mental and physical disabilities was in line with his ideology of "racial hygiene." This sought to purify the German gene pool by eliminating those considered unfit.

You spotted the connection.......

A vote for Harris would be a disaster for US, just another obama puppet, & look at the damage already done by her ignorance of the border or bidens senility..

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Harris is still enjoying the honeymoon period.

 

She hasn't had to speak yet.

 

Once she does the chances of the first DEI hire as president will plummet. 

 

America might need to wait a bit for it's first female Indian President. 

 

What about Elizabeth Warren? she could run on her native American heritage and ride into the White House on the victim ticket. What tribe was she from again?

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Are you British?

 

   Yes, I was hoping to get someone ranting about Harris will be my President whether I like it or not and there's nothing that I can do about it and that I'm a racist blah blah blah...........................and then  I would tell them that I am British 🙂

   I managed to get a quite a few when Obama was POTUS

4 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Yes, I was hoping to get someone ranting about Harris will be my President whether I like it or not and there's nothing that I can do about it and that I'm a racist blah blah blah...........................and then  I would tell them that I am British 🙂

   I managed to get a quite a few when Obama was POTUS

Ye, but it is a bit like taking ice cream off a baby!

22 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Yes, I was hoping to get someone ranting about Harris will be my President whether I like it or not and there's nothing that I can do about it and that I'm a racist blah blah blah...........................and then  I would tell them that I am British 🙂

   I managed to get a quite a few when Obama was POTUS

Interesting how many Brits are taking an interest in the US presidential election.

Most Americans could care less about British elections.

You have a king or something right?

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Interesting how many Brits are taking an interest in the US presidential election.

Most Americans could care less about British elections.

You have a king or something right?

 

Cannot really get away from the USA elections on theses forum due to the amount of thread about it , I have made the request that all IUSA election threads are kept in the same forum where we don't have to read and see  them 

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Interesting how many Brits are taking an interest in the US presidential election.

Most Americans could care less about British elections.

You have a king or something right?

You do realize that US elections are of much more consequence to the entire world than British elections, yeah?

3 hours ago, LosLobo said:

Reminiscent of Hitler's efforts to create a so-called "Aryan" race, the euthanasia of individuals with mental and physical disabilities was in line with his ideology of "racial hygiene." This sought to purify the German gene pool by eliminating those considered unfit.

Yeah he's a fascist.