This Is What 7 Presidential Candidates Said About LGBTQ Issues

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Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg

CNN’s “Equality Town Hall” featured seven Democratic Presidential Candidates offering their views on LGBTQ issues. These included subjects such a health care, conversion therapy, and discrimination against LGBTQ people. Most viewers will likely remember the event for interruptions by audience members offering urgent reminders about the epidemic of violence against trans people of color. Nevertheless, the forum allowed candidates to answer many questions of vital importance to LGBTQ voters. Here are some of the highlights.

Cory Booker

New Jersey Senator Corey Booker called violence against the LGBTQ community a “national emergency.”

Joe Biden

Former Vice President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of making sure health care providers do not discriminate based on gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV status.

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Pete Buttigieg

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg responded to a question about those who deny LGBTQ people service based on their faith. He shared his belief that religious freedom must be limited when it comes to harming other people.

Elizabeth Warren

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren got the laugh of the night with how she would respond to someone claiming “marriage is between one man and one woman.”

Kamala Harris

California Senator Kamala Harris noted her record of combatting the use of the “Gay/Trans Panic” in attacks on LGBTQ people.

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Beto O’Rourke

Former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke said religious institutions should lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage.

Amy Klobuchar

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar said she will recognize third gender markers on a federal level and encourage states to do the same.

Tom Steyer

Billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer said that there is not yet a cure for AIDS because corporations have “bought the government”.

Wondering how swing voters feel? Turns out more Christians now support LGBTQ issues.

For more of what the candidates said at the “Equality Town Hall”, visit CNN.

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Last modified: October 16, 2019