Kamala Harris' LGBTQ Supporters Rally Behind Her Presidential Ambitions

More than 1,100 prominent LGBTQ individuals, including celebrities, lawmakers, and community leaders, have signed a letter endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris' potential presidential run. The letter, released by national LGBTQ rights groups, highlights Harris' long-standing support for LGBTQ rights and the Biden-Harris administration's record of appointing LGBTQ individuals to key federal positions.

Uniting the LGBTQ Community Behind a Trailblazing Candidate

A Diverse Coalition of LGBTQ Advocates and Allies

The letter of endorsement includes signatures from a wide range of LGBTQ individuals and allies, showcasing the breadth of support for Harris' potential candidacy. Among the signatories are actors Matt Bomer, George Takei, and Billy Eichner, as well as soccer player Ashlyn Harris and her partner, actress Sophia Bush. Elected officials, such as Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representatives Ritchie Torres, Mark Takano, and Becca Balint, have also lent their names to the letter. Additionally, notable figures like Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, and Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, have added their support.

Harris' Longstanding Commitment to LGBTQ Rights

The endorsement letter highlights Harris' two-decade track record of supporting LGBTQ rights, which has earned her the backing of LGBTQ advocacy groups, lawmakers, and celebrities. As a district attorney in San Francisco, Harris helped make California the first state to ban the so-called "gay/trans panic defense," which had allowed those accused of homicide to receive lesser sentences by claiming they panicked after discovering a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity.Harris has also been an early and vocal supporter of marriage equality. In 2004, she officiated some of the nation's first same-sex marriages, and in 2008, as California's attorney general, she refused to defend Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage. In 2013, after a court allowed an injunction against Proposition 8 to stand, Harris officiated the first same-sex wedding in the state.

The Biden-Harris Administration's LGBTQ Achievements

The letter also highlights the Biden-Harris administration's record as "the most pro-LGBTQ+ administration in history," noting the appointment of several LGBTQ individuals to high-profile federal positions, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first gay Cabinet secretary, and Rachel Levine, the first Senate-confirmed transgender appointee and the highest-ranking transgender official in the federal government.The letter emphasizes the importance of electing Kamala Harris and defeating former President Donald Trump, as the next president will have a lasting impact on the country by filling any vacancies on the Supreme Court. With "anti-LGBTQ+ Project 2025" posing a threat to LGBTQ rights, the letter states that Harris' election is "critical for the cause of equality."

Addressing Concerns About Harris' Record

While the letter celebrates Harris' LGBTQ-friendly policies and achievements, it also acknowledges that some LGBTQ individuals have criticized her record on certain issues, particularly regarding transgender rights and criminal justice.As California's attorney general, Harris worked to block a transgender woman from receiving gender-affirming surgery in prison in 2015. However, at an LGBTQ presidential forum in 2019, Harris stated that she had worked behind the scenes to get the California Department of Corrections to change its policy denying such care to transgender inmates.Harris has also faced criticism for her support of the FOSTA-SESTA bill package, which was intended to hold websites accountable for knowingly assisting, supporting, or facilitating sex trafficking. The laws have had a disproportionate impact on LGBTQ sex workers, who are more likely to participate in sex work than the general population.In 2019, when Harris was a senator and running for president, she told The Root that she supported decriminalizing sex work but did not regret supporting FOSTA-SESTA. This stance has continued to draw criticism from some LGBTQ advocates.Despite these concerns, the letter's signatories have expressed their belief that Kamala Harris' overall record and commitment to LGBTQ rights make her a worthy candidate for the presidency, and they are rallying behind her potential campaign.