Now that Kamala Harris is the new Democratic Presidential nominee, we know she has been a long-time supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, but just how much does her choice for Vice President, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, align with these values?
Biden Out, Harris In
Now that sitting President Joe Biden has stepped down from his re-election campaign, Kamala Harris has stepped up as the Democratic presidential nominee for the upcoming election.
Parent’s Influence
Harris was introduced to politics at an early age due to her parent’s civil rights activism, which helped develop Harris’ liberal beliefs she would carry on to her political career.
Walz For Vice President
After becoming the Democratic Presidential nominee, the major question people were left with was, “Who will Harris pick for vice President?” and she finally chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
LGBTQ+ Support
Since Harris picked Time Walz as her Vice Presidential running mate, the decision has been praised by LGBTQ+ advocates due to Walz’s strong track record on LGBTQ+ rights.
Long Time Support
As a veteran and former teacher, Walz has been a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ+ community who has advocated for marriage equality, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and other significant policies throughout his career.
Walz’s Early Advocacy
In 1999, while working as a social studies teacher, Tim Walz supported LGBTQ+ students by advising Mankato West High School’s first Gay-Straight Alliance.
Creating Safe Spaces
However, Walz’s involvement in the GSA was only the beginning of his long-lasting commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, which would continue throughout his politcal career.
Needed to be Walz
Reflecting on his role in advising the GSA, Walz said, “It really needed to be the football coach, who was the soldier and was straight and was married.”
Marriage Equality Support
Walz was also an early and outspoken supporter of marriage equality for the LGBTQ+ community and even incorporated it into his 2006 Congressional campaign platform despite running in a conservative district.
Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
During his time in Congress, Walz also pushed for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a military policy enacted in 1993 that prohibited openly LGBTQ+ individuals from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Keeping Secrets
Under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” policy, military service members were not required to reveal their sexual orientation when enlisting, but if it was found out that they were a member of LGBTQ+, they could be discharged.
Calling on Experience
Drawing on his 24 years of military experience to argue against the policy on the House floor, Walz felt the policy did not contribute to national security and was unjustly discriminatory.
Making the Nation Safer
in a passionate speech on the House floor in 2009, Walz said, “Not once did I see that this nation was safer because a soldier was removed because of sexual orientation.”
Conversion Therapy Ban
As Governor of Minnesota, Walz also signed an executive order in 2021 banning state agencies and private insurers from paying for conversion therapy for minors or vulnerable adults.
Valuing Who They Are
After signing the executive order, Walz said, “Our kids deserve to grow up in a state that values them for who they are — not one that tries to change them.”
Conservative Backlash and Criticism
Unsurprisingly, Walz’s progressive policies, particularly his support for LGBTQ+ rights, have made him a massive target for conservative criticism after becoming Harris’s choice for Vice President.
Trump Takes Aim
Now Walz has been subject to online attacks and criticisms from former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, who have targeted his record and called his liberal policies “extreme.”
Trump’s Criticism
During an interview on Fox and Friends, Trump claimed, “He (Walz) is very heavy into transgender. Anything transgender he thinks is great, and he’s not where the country is on anything.”
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