Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of rainbow flags and banners, Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton took the stage last week in Wilton Manors (the new ‘gayborhood’ of Florida) to express her concern for the LGBT community and their continued fight for full equality under the law. While it is true that LGBTs received the right to marry in June 2015, there are still several issues threatening the livelihood of America’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens, and it is this reality—among many others—that fuels Mrs. Clinton’s journey to the Oval Office.
“We’ve made a lot of progress on LGBT rights,” she declared on Sunday, October 30, “but [ . . . ] we still have work ahead [ . . . ] There are still states where you can get married on Saturday, post your Facebook photos on Sunday, and get fired on Monday, just because of who you are [and] who you love.”
With the fervent belief that she is the candidate to continue the upward climb for LGBT rights, Clinton drew attention to her competitor’s “dark and divisive” agenda.
According to the former Secretary of State, Trump has publically stated that he aspires to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality and strive to prevent further LGBT legislative protection. But that, of course, is only if his election strategy earns him the presidential seat.
Referring to that strategy, Clinton says it is simple:
“Get the LGBT community to stay home! [But] you know how we’re going to stop him? By showing up with the biggest turnout in American history!”
Thriving off her audience’s energetic applause, she continued to describe just how she plans to fight on behalf of LGBT Americans.
“We will call on [ . . . ] Congress to pass the equality act, [ which will . . .] protect LGBT Americans from discrimination in all aspects of [their] lives. We will work together to achieve the AIDS-free generation that is within our reach, and we will take on homelessness, bullying and violence [ . . . ] which disproportionately hurts LGBT kids.”
Concluding her remarks, Clinton reminded her audience that while they are lucky enough to live in a place where discrimination is scarce, there are still countless cities and towns all over the nation where LGBT people continue to live in fear. She asked her listeners to remember these people, and themselves, when they cast their votes on Tuesday.
“When you vote in this election, remember that it’s not just my name on the ballot [but] it’s your future, it’s who we are as a country, it’s every issue we care about. And make no mistake, LGBT rights are at stake; the dignity and respect [of] every American is at stake.”
