270 Reasons: Because Kamala Harris Is an Ally to the Queer Community
Our friends at 270 Reasons are gathering a polyphonic orchestra of brilliant writers, teachers, doctors, filmmakers, artists, and citizens of all kinds to weigh in about their plans to vote this November. These opinion essays run the gamut from advocacy for basic human rights to acutely personal mini-manifestoes. Read the rest over at 270 Reasons.
Because Kamala Harris Is an Ally to the Queer Community
Have you felt the chill?
Since the election of Trump and his Republican stacking of the Supreme Court, we’re facing a rollback of rights, civility, and the idea of joyful self-determination for all.
Trans, gender-nonconforming folks, drag queens, and our whole LGBTQIA+ community are under attack. But we’re not the only ones…
Kamala Harris gets it.
“Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?” – Senator Harris, September 5, 2018
“They’re banning books. All the while, they refuse to pass reasonable gun safety laws.” – Vice President Kamala Harris, August 15, 2023
“To the LGBTQI+ youth who are hurting and are afraid right now: President Joe Biden and I see you, we stand with you, and you are not alone.” – Vice President Harris, February 23, 2024
Harris sees the interconnectedness of all these fights.
“I asked my team, ‘Let’s do a Venn diagram. From which states are we seeing attacks on LGBTQ rights, attacks on voting rights, and attacks on reproductive freedom?’ And you would not be shocked to know there was a significant overlap. Okay? But what that also presents is, ah, look at this opportunity to think about strengthening the coalition: bringing folks together who have been fighting for voting rights, bringing together folks who have been fighting for reproductive health rights, bringing together folks… who are fighting for LGBTQ+ rights… And building our coalition, remembering the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.” – Vice President Harris, October 12, 2023
Harris is going to be an amazing president of the USA, and I can’t wait to vote for her (and her choice for vice president, former high school GSA advisor and football coach, Tim Walz)!
I hope you’ll join me.
Lee Wind is the author of books (like the recent The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie) that aim to empower kids and teens to be their authentic selves and change the world.
Read more essays (with new ones added every day) at 270reasons.com.
The arguments here represent the opinion of the authors and not necessarily those of the McSweeney’s Literary Arts Fund.