Kamala Harris’s Support For LGBTQIA+ Rights: What You Need to Know
Vice President Kamala Harris is now the Democratic presidential nominee, with President Joe Biden endorsing her after he decided to exit the presidential race this year. Harris has a strong record of supporting LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive freedom, and other progressive causes.
In 2004, as San Francisco’s District Attorney, Harris officiated same-sex marriages after Mayor Gavin Newsom declared them legal. Although these marriages were later nullified, Harris recalls this as one of the most joyful moments of her career. She recently reunited via video call with a couple she married, Bradley Witherspoon and Raymond Cobane. “I’ll never forget pulling up to see all the families of every configuration and just pure joy, pure happiness,” she said.
As California’s Attorney General, Harris played a crucial role in restoring marriage equality. She opposed Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that revoked marriage equality in California. She and Governor Jerry Brown refused to defend Prop. 8 in court, leading to its eventual downfall. After Prop. 8 was struck down in 2013, Harris officiated the first post-Prop. 8 same-sex marriage in California.
“I Hate Bullies”
Harris has been vocal against anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation in conservative states. She has spoken out against “don’t say gay” laws and bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. “I hate bullies,” she told The Advocate. She highlighted the intersection between attacks on reproductive rights and LGBTQIA+ rights, noting that the same politicians often target both.
Hosting Pride and Supporting Marriage Equality
Harris has hosted Pride Month receptions and visited New York City’s Stonewall Inn, a historic site for LGBTQIA+ rights. She met with WNBA star Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, before Brittney’s first game after her release from Russia. President Biden honoured her work on marriage equality by gifting her the pen he used to sign the Respect for Marriage Act in December 2022.
Harris remains outspoken on LGBTQIA+ rights. “The fight for equal rights is patriotic,” she said at a 2023 Pride reception. “We believe in the foundational principles of our country; we believe in the promise of freedom and equality and justice.”
Potential VP: Pete Buttigieg
As Harris moves forward in her campaign, Pete Buttigieg, a gay secretary of transportation, is being suggested as a potential Vice President. This pairing could further solidify the administration’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights.
