LGBTI Rights - Presidential Candidate

[Rachel]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew how Clinton and Trump stand on LGBTI rights? Also, has either stated any LGBTI legislation they would support? Has either mentioned the need for Trans to be specifically included in the Civil Rights Act of 1968?

If the answer is neither has included us in their platform then how do we at least attempt to get included in eithers platform? If one includes us the other may also.

[Dee Marshall]

The President's platform really means very little unless their party controls one or both houses. It's good to know if they're sympathetic to know if they'll try to protect us and how they'll direct agencies, but they can't initiate laws.

[itsApril]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew how Clinton and Trump stand on LGBTI rights? Also, has either stated any LGBTI legislation they would support? Has either mentioned the need for Trans to be specifically included in the Civil Rights Act of 1968?

Trump is very mixed on LGBT issues, but has promised to appoint Supreme Court justices committed to overturning last year's decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

An analysis by the Human Rights Campaign of Trump's statements and positions:

http://www.hrc.org/2016RepublicanFacts/donald-trump-opposes-nationwide-marriage-equality

[CrazyCatMan]

I don't know why, and I'm not a Trump (or Clinton) supporter, but I have a feeling that Trump wouldn't go out of his way to hurt LGBT people. I don't think he cares about us either. He is money minded and stupid anti-LGBT laws cost money to enforce.

[itsApril]

There's no similar detailed info from Human Rights Campaign regarding Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.  HRC endorsed Clinton in January, which caused a certain amount of uproar, since Sanders has a more consistent record of supporting LGBT rights.

In the 1990s, Clinton supported both the Defense of Marriage Act (banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage) and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the defense policy permitting lesbians and gay men to serve in the military, but allowing the military to oust them if their sexual orientations became known publicly.  Thousands of lesbian and gay service members were discharged from the military under this policy.

Clinton was an opponent of same-sex marriage until 2013.  In 2004, she spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate, saying that "marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman."  Here's a link to a video clip of that speech:



Nice that she moved forward on this issue.  But it took her a long time.

[Kova V]

This is so crazy, I don't like either of them really. I might just put Bernie Sanders in "write-in" spot on the ballot.

[SophieD]

Secretary Clinton moved the State Department's policies very quickly to support benefits for same-sex partners and, thanks to her team's leadership, health insurance coverage for gender dysphoria to include SRS.  The Foreign Service health plan was, I believe, the first of the federal health insurance plans to offer transgender-related benefits.  She totally walked the walk, and it is clear she has become a staunch ally for the LGBT community.

[Colleen M]

Trump is very mixed on LGBT issues, but has promised to appoint Supreme Court justices committed to overturning last year's decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

An analysis by the Human Rights Campaign of Trump's statements and positions:

http://www.hrc.org/2016RepublicanFacts/donald-trump-opposes-nationwide-marriage-equality

Heck, I'm nearly convinced he only needs a single issue to take multiple stances.  It seems like he'll be asked a question, give what resembles a reasonable answer, then a couple days later he gives an answer more in line with the party platform.  I don't know whether he's got advisers after him, or polling data, or what, but he's inconsistent enough to be a real question mark.   

[Emileeeee]

I think they'll both just say whatever it takes to get to the white house. They both scare me, but I think we are so insignificant to them that they wouldn't even bother with us. I think them mentioning us right now is just because it's a hot topic.

Trump's back and forth is pretty bad. Look up the Trump vs Trump debate. I think it was Colbert that did it.