300 LGBT Leaders Endorse Biden for President in USA Today Op-Ed

WASHINGTON D.C. — (08-27-20) — On Thursday, more than 300 LGBT leaders and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president on Thursday, stating that the former vice president and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), will make “the most pro-equality ticket in American history.”

In an op-ed published by USA Today on Thursday, LGBT leaders boasted that Joe Biden’s career is, “as American as it gets,” and touted his long record of support LGBT issues such as marriage equality.

“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,” they wrote.

“As a senator, vice president, and private citizen, Biden worked tirelessly to advance LGBTQ+ equality. 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,” continued LGBT leaders in the Op-ed.

Biden/Harris – ‘The most pro-equality ticket in US history

In 2012, Biden came out in support of marriage equality on “Meet The Press,” stating that he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriages.

Biden’s statement was notable as he became the highest office-holder in U.S> history to come out in support of marriage equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

Later while Biden was still vice president, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of universal marriage equality in the U.S.

The op-ed continued to state that another four years of President Trump would be “untenable,” saying that during Trump’s first four years in office with his anti-LGBT vie president Mike Pence, LGBTQ+ Americans have been “consistently attacked” on “equal rights, healthcare and livelihoods” of LGBT people.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration rolled back protections for LGBT Americans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), cancelling the law’s nondiscrimination protections for sex and gender identity.

In 2017, Trump also issued a transgender military ban, requiring trans individuals who serve in the military to serve under the gender they were assigned at birth.

The op-ed in the newspaper was signed by several prominent LGBT lawmakers and advocates including Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), and Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso Baldwin.

The leaders concluded by stating that under a Biden-Harris administration, there would be hope for the LGBT community.