By Alphonso David
For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people and our allies, the 2020 presidential election will be the most important election of our lives.
Over the last two years, the Trump administration has rescinded key protections for transgender students, appointed two new anti-equality justices to the US Supreme Court, banned transgender troops from serving openly in the military, and repeatedly pushed policies that would open the door to discrimination against LGBTQ people in healthcare, housing, public accommodations and other aspects of life under the guise of “religious liberty.”
Despite campaigning on a promise to be a “real friend” to the LGBTQ community, Donald Trump has been outspoken about his opposition to bipartisan federal civil rights legislation — the Equality Act — which overwhelmingly passed through the US House of Representatives this year and, if signed into law, would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Today, there are 11 million LGBTQ voters estimated nationwide who will play a decisive role in the upcoming elections. We have also identified 57 million “Equality Voters” — friends, family members and other allies who prioritize LGBTQ-inclusive policies when deciding which candidates to support.
The rising Equality Vote has the potential to put LGBTQ issues at the center of electoral decision-making and activism — both in 2020 and beyond.