Our friends over at GLAAD have issued five questions about LGBTQ rights that moderators should ask at tonight’s democratic debate – and they’re spot on.
A two night spectacle, the debates will air from 9-11pm Eastern time simultaneously on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo. Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, Chuck Todd, Rachel Maddow, and José Diaz-Balart will moderate.
With so many candidates, the debate has been broken into two nights featuring ten candidates each evening. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Former Housing and Urban Development secretary Julián Castro, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Former Maryland Congressman John Delaney, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan will all debate tonight.
“Particularly on the eve of the historic 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, it’s important for media and those seeking the highest office in the land to discuss issues facing LGBTQ voters,” Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, said. “No candidate or political party should take the support of LGBTQ Americans for granted. This is an opportunity to discuss LGBTQ issues as we head toward the most consequential election of our lifetime.”
With so much on the line, here are the questions the organization is hoping moderators will ask tonight.
According to the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), LGBTQ Americans could still be:
- Fired from their jobs in 26 states,
- Denied housing in 26 states,
- Refused goods and services in 27 states, and
- Turned down by adoption agencies in 42 states.
Further, if an LGBTQ person experiences a hate crime, anti-LGBTQ attackers can still claim the so-called “gay/trans panic” defense in court in 44 states.
A new poll conducted by GLAAD and Harris Poll found acceptance for the LGBTQ community has waned in the last two years under the Trump Administration, with only 45% of younger non-LGBTQ Americans ages 18-34 saying they were “comfortable” with the LGBTQ community.
Approximately 18 states and Washington, D.C. have effectively banned any so-called “conversion therapy” practices. These “ex-gay” camps could cause long-term damage to LGBTQ people. This investigative report by ABC News’ “20/20” program brings light to what kind of damage “conversion therapy” programs could cause.
Violence against the transgender community, particularly transgender women of color, has skyrocketed in the last four years. So far in 2019, about ten transgender people have been murdered, repeating a national trend since 2016.
2018: 25 transgender people were murdered.
2017: 26 transgender people were murdered.
2016: 27 transgender people were murdered
Since the start of his term in office, President Trump and his administration have issued more than in policy and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.
