In the upcoming 2024 presidential election, one of the key issues that voters may consider is LGBTQ rights. This topic has drawn attention due to the starkly different messages and backgrounds of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on the issue.
According to a survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute, a large majority of Americans support legal protections for LGBTQ individuals. However, support for these rights is stronger in blue states compared to red states, and there has been a decline in overall support in recent years, especially among Republicans. Additionally, support for same-sex marriage has also seen a slight decrease.
It is noteworthy that 38% of Americans consider LGBTQ rights as a factor in their voting decisions, and 30% of them say they will only vote for a candidate who aligns with their views on this issue.
Let’s delve into the contrasting views and records of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on LGBTQ issues:
Donald Trump on LGBTQ Issues:
Former President Donald Trump has had an inconsistent stance on LGBTQ issues throughout his public life, and his administration rolled back protections for LGBTQ individuals, particularly transgender individuals.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, before entering politics, Trump expressed support for domestic partnership laws that granted couples similar benefits to married couples, a position that was not widely accepted by the GOP at the time. He also displayed personal tolerance towards LGBTQ issues. In a 1999 interview, Trump mentioned that he had no issue with gay people serving in the military.
However, as he ventured into politics, Trump’s views on same-sex marriage evolved. In 2011, he stated that he was opposed to gay marriage, and in 2015, he reiterated his support for “traditional marriage.”
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump mentioned that he would consider appointing Supreme Court justices who would overturn the ruling that legalized same-sex marriages. However, after being elected, he expressed that he was fine with same-sex marriage and indicated that he would not appoint justices with the goal of overturning the ruling.
Trump’s administration took actions against transgender rights, including reversing a policy that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity, banning some transgender individuals from serving in the military, and attempting to repeal health protections for transgender individuals.
In 2023, Trump expressed intentions to punish doctors providing gender affirming care for minors and impose consequences for teachers discussing the issue with students. His 2024 campaign heavily relied on anti-trans rhetoric, with significant spending on advertisements focusing on this issue in battleground states.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, sponsored legislation in 2023 to ban access to gender-affirming care for minors and introduced a bill to prevent the State Department from allowing the gender marker “X” on passports. Vance also voiced opposition to the Respect for Marriage Act, which provided federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.
Kamala Harris on LGBTQ Issues:
Vice President Kamala Harris has been an early adopter of pro-LGBTQ policies and stances, often taking progressive positions on LGBTQ rights before other prominent members of her party.
As the San Francisco district attorney, Harris officiated some of the nation’s first same-sex marriages in 2004, despite the law not yet recognizing them. She refused to defend Proposition 8, a voter-approved measure outlawing same-sex marriage, during her tenure as California’s attorney general.
Harris prosecuted cases of violence against LGBTQ individuals as district attorney and endeavored to eliminate the “panic defense” that allowed homicide defendants to seek reduced sentences based on the victim’s sexual orientation. However, she faced criticism for denying gender-affirming surgeries for transgender inmates while serving as attorney general.
Harris has sponsored bills aimed at addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and has supported progressive policies during her time as a senator. She has also been associated with the Biden administration’s efforts to expand Title IX protections for LGBTQ students and sign the Respect for Marriage Act into law.
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has a strong reputation as an LGBTQ rights advocate, having supported initiatives such as forming a gay-straight alliance in the ’90s while serving as a high school teacher.
In conclusion, the 2024 presidential election presents a stark contrast in the candidates’ views and records on LGBTQ rights. While Donald Trump has taken actions detrimental to the LGBTQ community, Kamala Harris has been a longstanding advocate for LGBTQ rights and has actively supported policies that promote equality and inclusion. Voters will have the opportunity to weigh these differences and make informed decisions based on where the candidates stand on this crucial issue.
