Tag: LGBTQ

Clinton and Trump Clash at First Debate

Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton discuss a point during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RTSPKQO
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton discuss a point during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson – RTSPKQO

On Monday evening, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump faced off in a debate that kept fact checkers busy. The candidates debated several topics including national security, racism, and their plans to create new jobs. They did not waste enough time attacking each other with Trump going after Clinton’s stamina and Clinton criticizing Trump’s business failures and his attitude toward women. The moderator for the debate, NBC’s Lester Holt was largely absent from the event with the candidates answered his questions then going back-and-forth with each other. Watch a full replay of the debate below, and the next presidential debate is scheduled for October 9.

Hillary for America responded to last night’s debate with a new video and a links to a series of articles calling Clinton the winner of the debate. Watch the video below and click the links to read the articles.

Hillary for America arranged for a number of debate watch parties across the country. The watch parties and fundraising events were held in Orlando, Florida (with guest Tim Kaine); Brookline, Massachusetts (with guests Michelle Kwan and Kathleen Sebelius); New York City (with guest Uzo Aduba); New York City (Hillary for America sponsored); Chicago, Illinois (with Chicago LGBT for Hillary); Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Vox, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, NBC News, CBS News, The Atlantic, Time, Politico, Vanity Fair, Politifact

Read: Hillary Clinton’s Comprehensive Platform

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Since launching her campaign in April 2015, Hillary Clinton has outlined a number of major platform points in a series of speeches. As we near the election, the campaign has heated up in the battle between Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. With a little over a month to go, it is important that Clinton continue to deliver substantive speeches and combat a Trump platform that offers no substance or foundation. Clinton’s platform is built on a career of public service and an understanding of domestic and foreign policies. While everyone may not agree with all of platform points, taken as a whole it is clear that she has put together a solid plan to more the country forward and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to live up to their full potential.

When Clinton has introduced a major platform topic, we add it to the Platform category of the website. Looking through Clinton’s speeches and policy proposals, a clear plan emerges. From Clinton’s kickoff rally in June 2015 to the announcement of her plans to protect the rights of disabled Americans earlier this month, a list of Clinton’s platform speech topics and announcement dates are below:

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

Chelsea, Kaine, Holton Campaign for Hillary

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Thursday was a full day on the campaign trail with ten events being held on behalf of Hillary Clinton across the country and around the world. Clinton’s running mate, Time Kaine, held a rally in Reno, Nevada where he spoke to supporters at the University of Nevada Reno. During his speech, Kaine spoke about a variety of Clinton’s proposals including her plans to combat climate change, reduce the cost of higher education, equal rights for women and members of the LGBTQ community, and paid leave. As he spoke, Kaine compared Clinton’s views with those of Donald Trump saying that he cannot be trusted. “People who trust Trump tend to get hurt by Trump,” he said. A video of Kaine’s speech is below.

Kaine’s wife, Anne Holton, was in Ohio where she took part in four events. Holton began in Trotwood where she held a discussion on the topic of Veterans and Military Families. She spoke about Clinton’s plans to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs and ensure that military families were cared for while their loved one serves their country. In Columbus, Holton focused on early childhood education during a visit to Childhood League Center. Holton, the former Secretary of Education for Virginia, spent time with a preschool class and spoke with educators. At Holton’s final events of the day, in Delaware and Zanesville, she spoke with supporters about a number of Clinton’s platform points. Videos from the events will be added when/if available.

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Chelsea Clinton attended events in Ohio and Michigan. In Toledo, Ohio, Chelsea spoke to a group of students and supporters on the campus of the University of Toledo. She spoke about a number of mother’s proposals, but focused more on her plans to reduce the cost of higher education and reduce the debt of those who have graduated from college. Chelsea said that Hillary’s plans are important because, “No one should have to make a professional choice to service debt.” Following her speech, Chelsea stopped by the local Hillary for America office in Toledo where she thanked volunteers for their hard work.

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Chelsea then traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a Women for Hillary event. During her speech, Chelsea focused on women and family issues saying, “My mom understands that women’s issues aren’t just women’s issues; they’re family issues and economic issues. And she understands that economic issues aren’t just economic issues, they’re also women’s issues and family issues.” Chelsea then traveled to Lansing where she spoke at a Students for Hillary event at Michigan State University. She spoke about the Hillary’s plan to help college students and reduce student debt. Following her speech, Chelsea answered questions from those in attendance. A video of Chelsea’s event at Michigan State University is below.

 

Meanwhile, a fundraiser was held on behalf of Hillary for America in Vienna, Austria. The event was only open to American citizens and featured a conversation with William C. Eacho, former United States Ambassador to Austria (2009 – 2013).

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Lansing State Journal, WOODTV, Reno Gazette-Journal, Toledo Blade, The Columbus Dispatch

Clinton Publishes Op-Ed About What She’s Learned from Millennials

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On Monday, Mic published an op-ed by Hillary Clinton titled “Here’s What Millennials Have Taught Me.” In the article, Clinton explains that the millennial generation is the most open and diverse generation of Americans, and she has learned a great deal by talking with millennial voters over the past year and a half. She then outlines three things she plans to do to help millennials: reduce college debt, create jobs, and cap the maximum out of pocket cost for childcare. Clinton asks for voters support at the conclusion of the op-ed saying, “So let’s stand together to show the world what our country, and your generation, really stands for. Let’s overwhelm division and intolerance with compassion, understanding and unity. Let’s make clear that Love Trumps Hate — not just this November, but always.” A copy of the op-ed is below and can be read HERE.

We hear a lot of things about the millennial generation. But too often, the people who are busy trying to define you are the ones who have spent the least time listening to you.

Here’s what I have learned: Your generation is the most open, diverse and entrepreneurial generation in our country’s history. And if we work together to take on the barriers that are holding you back and unleash your full potential, that won’t just improve your lives — it’ll make our entire country stronger.

From the first days of this campaign, you have shared the problems that keep you up at night and the hopes that get you up in the morning. You’ve reached for the opportunities that come with a college education at the highest rates of any generation in history — but faced ballooning tuition costs and crushing student debt like never before. Many of you entered the workforce during the worst recession since the Great Depression. And you’ve come of age during two deadly, costly wars in the Middle East.

And yet, despite all these challenges, you’ve never given up. Not even close.

Instead, you’re leading the way to a brighter future for all of us. You’ve fought for some of the most important accomplishments in our nation’s history, like the Affordable Care Act and marriage equality. You’ve come together to challenge our country to protect human rights and strengthen families by fixing a broken immigration system, reforming our criminal justice system and ending the era of mass incarceration. And you’ve demanded that people of color be able to live their lives without fear of being killed at a routine traffic stop.

And it’s nothing short of inspiring.

Around the time I graduated from college, our country was in its own moment of soul-searching. We were mired in a war in Vietnam, and reeling from the shooting of peaceful protesters at Kent State and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. At the same time, we were making progress on important fronts. The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, and the Voting Rights Act broke down barriers that prevented too many people of color from casting their ballot. Women were entering the workforce like never before, challenging attitudes and expectations. It felt like all of America was struggling to decide who we were going to be.

Today, many of you have told me you feel the same way. We’ve seen the rise of a presidential candidate who pits Americans against each other and traffics in prejudice and paranoia. I’ve heard how uneasy this race has made many of you feel — how chilling it is to see protesters beaten at political rallies while the candidate eggs them on. When he talks about making America great again, it’s code for taking America back to a time when many of us — women, people of color, immigrants, LGBT Americans, people with disabilities — were marginalized, ostracized and treated as less-than.

But that’s not what our country is made of. And it’s not what I see when I look to your generation. In large part because of all of you, I am convinced that America’s best days are ahead of us.

There’s a lot that needs fixing — and we’re going to fix it together.

To make it happen, we need to change both hearts and laws. Starting with my first job at the Children’s Defense Fund, I’ve learned that if you want to help the greatest number of people in our democracy, you have to push for reform from both the outside in and the inside out. So we need activists and advocates, entrepreneurs and innovators, teachers and mentors, and everyone who changes lives every day in a million quiet ways. But we also need to do the slow, hard business of governing. We need to win elections, write laws, allocate resources and find common ground. Doing both is the secret to making change.

Let me tell you about a few things I want to work with you to change as your president.

First, everyone who wants to go to college should be able to without drowning in debt. That’s why I worked with Sen. Bernie Sanders to design a plan that will let everyone attend college debt-free. If you already have loans, we’ll let you refinance them, defer them to start a business or forgive them if you spend 10 years in public service. You can even see how much you and your family could save under our plan by looking at the “college calculator” on our website. And we’ll make sure a four-year degree isn’t the only path to a good-paying job by supporting apprenticeships and other high-quality training programs.

Second, everyone should be able to get a job that pays the bills and can support a family. And not only that, you should be able to do work you love and find meaningful. So we’ll create more good-paying jobs, raise the minimum wage and guarantee equal pay. This will help a lot of Americans, especially young people struggling to find footing in a difficult economy.

Third, no new parent should have to face the impossible choice between caring for a child or family member and losing a paycheck or even a job. It’s outrageous that in 2016, the United States is the only developed country in the world without paid family leave of any kind. So we’ll make high-quality child care and preschool available to every family in every community.  I’ve spent my career fighting to make a difference for children and families, and I can’t wait to do even more as president.

Of course, to do any of these things, we can’t have secret unaccountable money poisoning our politics. So I’ll appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Citizens United and even propose a constitutional amendment to do the same. And by doing that, we’ll make sure that no special interests can get in the way of protecting and expanding civil rights, LGBT rights and all human rights.

Many of you have shared with me that it feels like you’re out there on your own — like no one has your back. It shouldn’t be that way. If I’m fortunate enough to be elected, you will always have a champion in the White House. But I can’t do it on my own. I need you to work with me, keep fighting for what you believe, hold me accountable. I can’t promise we’ll win every fight on our first try. But I can promise you this: I’ll never stop fighting for you.

So let’s stand together to show the world what our country, and your generation, really stands for. Let’s overwhelm division and intolerance with compassion, understanding and unity. Let’s make clear that Love Trumps Hate — not just this November, but always.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Mic

Hillary Clinton returns to Campaign Trail in North Carolina

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On Thursday, Hillary Clinton returned to the campaign trail following several days off to recover from pneumonia. Speaking in Greensboro, North Carolina, she addressed her illness saying, “People like me, we’re lucky. When I’m under the weather, I can afford to take a few days off. Millions of Americans can’t.” Clinton then continued to address a number of issues she intends to focus on as president including creating new jobs, reducing the cost of higher education, and ensuring equal rights for everyone. She criticized Donald Trump for his divisive campaign and vowed to not run her campaign in the same manner. A video from the event is below.

Following the event, Clinton took questions from the press. Watch coverage from the press conference below.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Winston-Salem Journal, CNN, The New York Times

Tim Kaine, Chelsea Clinton Campaign for Hillary

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Tim Kaine, Anne Holton, and Chelsea Clinton were on the campaign trail today in various states. Kaine spoke at a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he told a crowd of students and supporters about Hillary Clinton’s plan to reduce the debt of college students and ensure that students whose families make less than $125,000 a year can attend a public college or university debt free. Speaking at the University of Michigan, Kaine also expressed his confidence in Hillary’s judgement saying, “I want a commander-in-chief with judgment. I would trust Hillary Clinton with my son’s life and Donald Trump scares me to death.” A video of Kaine’s speech is below.

Chelsea was in North Carolina where she began two days of campaigning in the area. She began in Winston-Salem where she took part in a panel discussion about women in leadership. The group discussed a number of topics including the importance of an education and the wage gap. Chelsea then traveled to Durham where she spoke at the opening of a campaign office. She thanked volunteers and urged them to get out and talk to voters. She spoke about the importance of the election saying, “This is the most important presidential election of my lifetime,” she said. “Whomever we elect will play a fundamental role in shaping the future that my children and their generation grow up in.” A video from Chelsea’s panel at Wake Forest University is below.

Anne Holton, the wife of Kaine, attended an event at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The former Secretary of Education for the state of Virginia spoke about Hillary’s plans to help college students repay debt and ensure that future college students do not go into debt. She explained, “Part of Hillary’s plan is to make community college tuition free, to make Pell grants year-round so that students can continue their education in the summers when otherwise appropriate and then to make college debt-free for everybody.” Holton then answered questions from students in attendance. A video from the event will be added when/if available.

Meanwhile, three fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was an evening with BD Wong in Boston, Massachusetts. Then, in Atlanta, Georgia, a LGBTQ Friends and Allies for Hillary event was held. The final event was a discussion of the environment and election with Ion Yadigaroglu and Kristina Costa. The event was held in New York City.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Fox 2, WXYZ, WTKR, WRAL, WXII, ABC 10

Tim Kaine Addresses the Human Rights Campaign Dinner

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On Saturday, Tim Kaine gave the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, DC. During his speech, Kaine spoke about his personal support for the LGBTQ community and Hillary Clinton’s campaign pledge to ensure equal rights for the LGBTQ community is ensured with the passage of the Equality Act. Kaine, a Catholic, spoke about the Catholic Church’s position on same-sex marriage saying, “My full, complete, unconditional support for marriage equality is at odds with the current doctrine of the church that I still attend. But I think that’s going to change, too.” He also criticized Donald Trump’s position on LGBTQ rights saying that Trump is “no friend to this community, and he’s no friend to the value of equality.” A video of Kaine’s speech is below.

While in Washington, DC, Kaine also attended a DC for45 fundraising event for Hillary for America.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: The Washington Post

Hillary Clinton Statement on Actors’ Equity Association Endorsement

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Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of the Actors’ Equity Association. In a statement, the group said this is the first time they have endorsed a presidential candidate, but they felt the need to speak out. Executive Director Mary McColl expressed the importance of unions and the reason for their endorsement of Clinton. “Our union has historically chosen to remain nonpartisan and above the fray. But at such a critical time in our country’s history, this union does not have that luxury if we hope to protect our members. We have to fight with everything we have for our survival.” Clinton responded to the endorsement with the following statement.

“I am honored to have earned the first-ever endorsement of the Actors’ Equity Association.

I have spent my life fighting to even the odds for those who have had the odds stacked against them. That means making it possible for every child to live up to his or her God-given potential, no matter where they come from, what they look like, or who they love. And, although this is an unusual thing for a candidate for President to say, it means working to create more love and kindness in our country. 

The Actors’ Equity Association shares these core values. And I couldn’t be prouder to have them standing with me in this election. The stakes could not be higher.

From the beginning, Donald Trump has based his campaign on prejudice and paranoia. He has insulted immigrants and demeaned women. He has called for banning 1.5 million people from so much as entering this country because of their religion. He mocked and mimicked a reporter with a disability. He would appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality, and when the time came to choose a running-mate, he selected a man who signed a law that would have allowed Indiana businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.

Donald Trump does not understand a basic truth about America: we are stronger together.

Americans don’t tear each other down—we lift each other up. We don’t build walls—we break down barriers. Together, we’ll fight to finally guarantee equal pay for women, protect workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, and build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. We’ll pass the Equality Act and make it illegal to discriminate against LGBT people in employment and housing—and we won’t let up in the fight against HIV and AIDS until we reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation, which is finally in sight. We will face up to the reality of systemic racism and fix it—and we’ll fight back against those who are trying to deny Americans their fundamental right to vote. And above all, we will never forget that we are in this together, one nation, indivisible.

The future we want is within our reach—let’s build it together.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Actors’ Equity Association

 

HFA Fundraisers Held on Sunday, Kutcher in Iowa

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On Sunday, two fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was a LGBT and Allies reception in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event featured a conversation with Mayor Michael Nutter and music by DJ Samantha Ronson. Then, in Providence, Rhode Island, a fundraiser was hosted by Michelle Kwan and Clay Pell. The event featured a conversation with actor Tony Goldwyn.

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Hillary Clinton has also received several celebrity endorsements. Actor Ashton Kutcher visited a local Hillary for America campaign office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A native Iowan, Kutcher criticized Donald Trump for doing anything to get elected. “In an effort to get himself elected, he’s willing to say whatever he has to and make you promises that ultimately I don’t think he can keep, but what most common sense people think is right,” he said. Kutcher continued, “I think Hillary stands for all of the things we stand for.” Meanwhile, in an interview with Katie Couric, DJ Khaled said he was supporting Clinton.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: The Gazette, Thump

Clinton Statement on National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Endorsement

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Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The group’s co-founder and CEO Chance Mitchell said that “the stakes have never been so high for the future of the LGBT business community. Hillary Clinton is the progressive champion our businesses and our families need to thrive.” Clinton released a statement thanking the group for their endorsement and reinforcing her support for the LGBTQ community. A copy of Clinton’s statement is below.

“I am honored to have earned the first-ever endorsement of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

For nearly 15 years, the NGLCC has paved the way for LGBT-owned and –allied businesses to succeed, grow, and find new clients and partners.  Just this month, they brought together a record-breaking number of LGBT business leaders at their annual convention.

The stakes in this election could not be higher for LGBT Americans. When Donald Trump says he’ll ‘make America great again,’ that’s code for ‘take America backwards.’ He has said he would appoint judges who would overturn marriage equality. The man Trump chose as his running mate signed a law that opened the door for Indiana businesses to discriminate against LGBT people and said marriage equality could cause ‘societal collapse.’  As we’ve seen in North Carolina, discrimination isn’t only wrong – it’s bad for business.  North Carolina’s egregious HB2 measure has caused companies to pull jobs and millions of dollars out of the state.

We have our work cut out for us.  As President, I’ll keep fighting for equality and opportunity for LGBT Americans by passing the Equality Act.  And I want to be the small business president and make things easier for small businesses every step of the way. In America, if you can dream it, you should be able to build it – no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love. That’s why I have a comprehensive plan to make it easier to start a business, get the financing to grow, file taxes and work with the federal government, and provide good benefits to workers.

I am proud to stand with the NGLCC in this election and every day.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: NBC News