“Golden Ticket”: LGBTQ Groups Praise Selection of Tim Walz
metroweekly.comprohibiting public libraries from removing books from shelves simply due to objections about their content, including books with LGBTQ themes or characters.Walz signed an executive order banning conversion therapy and has been an advocate for federal nondiscrimination laws, both as a member of Congress from a rural, Republican-leaning district and as governor of a Democratic-leaning state (Minnesota’s laws have protected LGBTQ people from discrimination for decades).
In short, there’s much for LGBTQ advocates to like about Walz. That’s why many advocacy organizations dropped supportive statements following the announcement of Harris’ selection of Walz on August 6.“Governor Tim Walz is a strong ally for our community and a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ equality,” Annise Parker, the president and CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, said in a statement. “A Harris-Walz ticket will certainly push the movement for equality forward, and we expect a Harris-Walz administration will continue the historic levels of LGBTQ+ representation among presidential appointments.”Born and raised in Valentine, Nebraska, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard after completing high school.
He served for nearly a quarter of a century, eventually rising to the rank of command sergeant major.Walz, who graduated from Chadron State College with a social science degree in 1989, spent a year teaching abroad before returning stateside.
He married his wife, Gwen Walz, a fellow teacher, and moved to Mankato, Minnesota, where he taught social studies and helped coach the Mankato West football team while serving full-time in the National Guard.He was elected to Congress in 2006, serving for six terms until he was elected governor of Minnesota in 2018.Walz has proven to be a “dream” Democratic governor of a swing state, helping push through a wish list of progressive social and economic policies despite only having a one-seat majority in the State Senate and a six-seat edge in the State House of.
