After President Joe Biden stepped down from his re-election campaign, Kamala Harris has stepped up as the Democratic presidential nominee, and we’re taking a deep dive into her stance on Democratic issues like LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access.
Early Life and Background
Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Harris grew up in a multicultural environment with her Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and Jamaican father, Donald Harris.
Parents Influence
From an early age, Harris was introduced to politics thanks to her parents being active members of the civil rights movement, which influenced her progressive stance and set her on a path toward political activism.
Harris’s Influence
“My parents were very active in the civil rights movement, and that’s the foundation of my interest in public service,” Harris told NPR in an interview.
Legal Career and Advocacy
Harris began her legal career in 1990 at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, specializing in the prosecution of child sexual assault cases, and later became the district attorney for San Francisco.
Joyful Moments
As San Fransico DA, Harris was a vocal supporter of same-sex marriage, telling the Advocate in 2023, “One of the most joyful [moments of my career] was performing the marriages in 2004. Truly joyful.”
Attorney General of California
When she became California’s Attorney General, Harris also played a crucial role in restoring marriage equality by opposing Proposition 8, which revoked same-sex marriage rights in 2008.
Fighting Prop 8
“We fought Prop. 8 in court, and when it was struck down, I officiated the first same-sex marriage in California post-Prop. 8. It was a historic moment,” Harris told The Guardian.
U.S. Senate and Legislative Achievements
Harris was eventually elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, achieved perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign and reproductive rights groups, and later introduced bills to expand healthcare and combat HIV.
Fighting Tirelessly
In her Senate farewell speech, Harris said, “As a senator, I fought tirelessly for healthcare, equality, and justice for all Americans.”
Vice Presidency and Progressive Advocacy
Harris has since continued her advocacy during her vice presidency, opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, supporting gender-affirming care, and hosting Pride Month receptions alongside visits to significant LGBTQ+ landmarks.
Quote on LGBTQ+ Advocacy
“The fight for equal rights is patriotic. We believe in the promise of freedom and equality and justice,” she said at a 2023 Pride reception.
Reproductive Rights
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Harris also emphasized the importance of reproductive freedom, calling on Congress to restore abortion protections.
A Grave Mistake
“The Dobbs decision was a grave mistake, and we must fight to ensure every woman has the right to choose,” she said at a rally in Virginia.
Criticisms and Controversies
However, Harris has also faced her fair share of criticism for her prosecutorial record, particularly her stance on gender-affirming surgery for inmates and keeping inmates in prison past their release dates.
Keeping Inmates in Prison
In 2014, lawyers in Harris’s office argued against reducing prison overcrowding, stating that some non-violent offenders needed to remain in the prison system to help combat wildfires.
Shocked and Troubled
However, after this statement was made, it was reported that Harris was “shocked and troubled” by the argument made by her office and directed the attorneys not to make that argument again.
Impacting Her Campaign
It is too early to tell whether or not these decisions will have an impact on Harris’s presidential aspirations, but at the end of the day, they seem minuscule when compared to all the allegations and crimes against Trump.
Is Trump Worried?
Despite her record, it seems unlikely that Former President Trump is worried about Harris’s election campaign as he has never really seemed to take her that seriously in the first place.
More Unfit
In a recent rally for his campaign, Trump said, “Which of their candidates is more unfit to be President — Sleepy Crooked Joe Biden, or Laughing Kamala?”
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / lev radin.
