The weight of the upcoming presidential election seems to loom larger everyday. For many Democrats and social justice advocates, Kamala Harris is the more attractive candidate, but just where does she stand on LGBTQ+ rights? And what can the queer community expect should she take office?
The ACLU, a known human rights group, recently published an article entitled “Why a Harris Presidency promises hope for LGBTQ rights.” They argue that during Biden’s term, the Biden-Harris administration has made LGBTQ rights an integral part of its agenda, suing states to block anti-trans laws and policies and making attempts to get the Supreme Court to lift bans on gender affirming care for trans adolescents.
According to the ACLU, Harris has openly supported legislation like the Equality Act, which protects queer people from discrimination, since the early days of her time in the Senate. As VP, her support continued. At the American Federation Teachers’ 2024 national convention, she called out groups who champion censorship of crucial works like Moms for Liberty. “And while you teach students about our nation’s past, these extremists attack the freedom to learn and acknowledge our nation’s true and full history…including book bans” she said in her speech. The Biden-Harris administration even hired a deputy assistant secretary to the Office of Civil Rights to specifically track book bans around the country.
Harris has also backed the introduction of updates for Title IX, which expanded policies on protecting students’ rights to use bathrooms aligning with their gender identity. Similarly, she supported the strengthening of the Violence Against Women Act which supports domestic violence survivors, LGBTQI+ people, and those living on college campuses, according to GLAAD.
Following the death of Nex Benedict, a nonbinary student who was bullied in school for their identity. “To the LGBTQI+ youth who are hurting and are afraid right now: President Joe Biden and I see you, we stand with you, and you are not alone.”
Harris continues to show she will support the LGBTQ+ community by selecting Tim Walz as her running mate, a former teacher who helped students in his school form a GSA. With luck, a Harris presidency will continued to fight against anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns, legislation, and politicians, and will prioritize maintaining the rights of underserved Americans.
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