VP NOMINEE TIM WALZ: WE’RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO DEMONIZE PEOPLE
In a speech last month at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner, 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz affirmed his commitment to LGBTQ rights.
“What this election boils down to, in a lot of ways, it’s fundamentally about freedom,” said Walz. “Donald Trump and JD Vance, their idea of freedom is that the government should be free to invade every corner of our lives—our bedrooms, our kid’s schools, even our doctor’s office… we’re not going back to the discrimination… we’re not going to force our children into situations where they become suicidal. We’re not going to continue to demonize people because of who they are.”
BIDEN CONFIRMS 12TH LGBTQ+ JUDGE, THE MOST OF ANY PRESIDENCY
Judge Mary Kay Costello made history last month when she became the 12th Senate-confirmed LGBTQ+ judge appointed by President Joe Biden.
She’ll now sit on the bench of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Her confirmation helped Biden set a new record, topping both the Obama administration and Biden administration’s previously tied record of appointing 11 out LGBTQ+ judges.
SARAH MCBRIDE TO BECOME FIRST OUT TRANS MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride (D) won the primary for Delaware’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; the win all but ensures her election to Congress and will make her the first out trans member of Congress. In November 2020, McBride made history as the country’s first out transgender state senator when she won a decisive victory over Republican Steve Washington in the race to represent Delaware’s 1st Senate District.
CELEBRITIES JOIN AUCTION TO PUT LGBTQ+ BOOKS IN CLASSROOMS
Pride and Less Prejudice hosted its fourth annual #BannedTogether virtual auction last month with the goal of raising funds to send 1,600 free LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary schools across the United States, reports the Advocate.
This year’s auction featured items and experiences donated by celebrities such as singer Janelle Monáe, actor Daniel Radcliffe, singer Jason Mraz, Lily Tomlin, Sara Bareilles, Hannah Gadsby, Margaret Cho, author Casey McQuiston, and many others.
“Pride and Less Prejudice is committed to ensuring that students have access to LGBTQ-inclusive books at school and in their libraries to see themselves and their families represented,” Pride and Less Prejudice founder Lisa Forman said in a statement.
FBI REPORTS INCREASE IN ANTI-LGBTQ HATE CRIMES
Hate crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ animus rose again last year, according to FBI data published last month, a troubling increase that gay and transgender rights advocates believe is linked to ramped-up rhetoric and legislation targeting the community, reports The Hill.
“Every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer person in this country should be free to live their lives without fear,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
“Make no mistake,” she added, “politicians who spread disinformation and demonize our lives are contributing to this violence.”
