On Thursday, Hillary Clinton received the trailblazer award from The Center, a LGBT Community Center, in New York City. Clinton spoke at the event and warned the audience that the Donald Trump administration could undo years of progress. “But I think we have to face the fact that we may not ever be able to count on this administration to lead on LGBT issues. Let’s remember, 2018, the midterm elections … We can never stop fighting,” Clinton said. She spoke about the anti-LGBT actions in Chechnya and the proposed cuts to funding for HIV and AIDS research. She urged everyone to keep fighting saying, “I know that the election hit a lot of us hard. But I can tell you this: Even when it feels tempting to pull the covers over your head, please keep going.” Watch a video of Clinton’s speech below.
On Friday, CNN published an op-ed written by Hillary Clinton focusing on LGBT equality in America. In the piece, Clinton says that America is moving forward with the recent Supreme Court ruling and some states banning employers for firing an employee because of their sexual orientation. She warns, however, that Republican nominee Donald Trump has called himself a “traditional guy” when it comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. Trump has said that he would support the First Amendment Defense Act, which would allow organizations to deny services to LGBT people citing their religious beliefs as their reason. Clinton vowed to keep fighting for equal rights for everyone and supports the Equality Act ensuring federal equality for all LGBT Americans. The full op-ed can be read HERE.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton listens to a question at town hall meeting at White Mountain Community College, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Berlin, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Hillary Clinton has released her plans to fight for the rights of the LGBT community. She has previously said that “gay rights are human rights,” and her plan outlines a mix of legislation and support. The full details of the plan are available on The Briefing, but an outline is below:
Fight for full federal equality for all LGBT Americans
Work with Congress to pass the Equality Act
Continue President Obama’s LGBT equality executive actions
Supper efforts underway to clarify that under federal statutes “sex discrimination” includes discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” and “sexual orientation”
Support LGBT youth, parents, and elders
End discriminatory treatment of LGBT families in adoptions
Improve school climate for all students
End LGBT conversion therapy for minors
Combat youth homelessness
Ensure LGBT elders can retire with dignity and respect
Correct national data to better serve LGBT individuals and families
Honor the military service of LGBT people
Upgrade service records of LGBT veterans dismissed due to their sexual orientation
Support efforts to allow transgender personnel to serve openly
Secure affordable treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS
Call on Republican governors to extend Medicaid coverage to provide life-saving health care to people living with HIV
Cap out-of pocket expenses for people with HIV/AIDS
Expand the utilization of HIV prevention medications, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
Protect transgender rights
Protect transgender individuals from violence
Streamline identity documents
Invest in law enforcement training on interactions with LGBT individuals
Promote human rights of LGBT people around the world
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets audience members following a veterans roundtable discussion with the Truman National Security Project at the VFW Hall in Derry, New Hampshire November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
On Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton attended a round table event with the Truman National Security Project in Derry, New Hampshire. During the event, Clinton outlined her plans to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a department that has been heavily scrutinized for its outdated practices and massive backlog. Clinton said, “These problems are serious, systemic and unacceptable. They need to be fixed and they need to be fixed now.” She made it clear that the VA and its processes would not be privatized, but modernized in a way that honors the commitment of the veterans it serves. Clinton then spoke to veterans in attendance and answered to their questions while listening to their concerns. A video from the event will be posted when/if available.
Clinton’s plan is complex and contains multiple facets. The Clinton campaign released a full outline of the plan, and key points are below. CLICK HERE to read the full plan.
Ensure that Veterans have access to timely and quality health care
Create a new framework for heath care delivery by the VHA
Refocus as a veteran-centric provider of service-connected care
Synchronize and coordinate VHA benefits with other programs
Strategically purchase private-sector care
Establish a VHA Strategic Oversight and Governance Board
Ensure better communication between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA
Streamline the DoD-VA health care footprint
Synchronize procurement to find cost savings
Streamline VA and DoD IT Systems
Improve healthcare for women at the VHA
New funding to ensure women equal and respectful access to health services
Requiring the provision of reproductive services
Broadening initiatives to provide childcare at VA medical facilities
End the veteran suicide epidemic
Increase funding for metal health providers and training
Expand programs targeted at providing effective mental heath treatment
Promoter better prescriber and treatment practices
Ensure that Military Sexual Trauma is acknowledged as a valid form of PTS
Encourage state VA departments to include mental health programs
Provide proper legal assistance to review and upgrade other than honorable discharge categorizations for those separated from service due to service-connected mental health and cognitive issues, such as TBI, PTS, and addiction
Continue to identify and treat invisible, latent, and toxic wounds of war
Maintain presumptions of service for latent and invisible connected wounds from the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq war, and Afghanistan war
Expand the current VA burn pit registry
Dedication research funding and provide mechanisms for collaborative efforts to improve veteran treatments
End disability benefits and appeals backlog
Streamline and simplify the claims process
Improve the VA’s partnership with the DoD
Launch an Innovation Initiative to develop innovative solutions for sustainably managing the claims and appeals process
Bring sustained and focused White House leadership to attention
Create a standing President’s Council on Veterans
Conduct an end-to-end evaluation to optimize the full scope of benefits afforded to our veterans
Convene a White House Summit on Veterans
Continue to engage private and philanthropic sectors
Support and broaden initiatives that provide educational benefits, job training, and support for veteran entrepreneurs.
Make the post-9/11 GI Bill part of the nation’s social contract with those who serve
Expand tax credit for veterans’ employment
Improve concurrent certification and credentialing programs
Strengthen veteran entrepreneurship programs
Create pathways and platforms for service member to enter growing career fields
Protect veterans
Fight back against schools that prey on veterans and the GI Bill
Enforce zero tolerance for firms that overcharge service members and veterans
Strengthen non-discrimination laws
Move decisively to end veteran homelessness
Increase funding for reducing homelessness while expanding public-private partnerships
Expand complementary programs and services
Address the needs of homeless women veterans and homeless veteran families
Support Veterans Treatment Courts nationally
Recognize the honorable service of LGBT veterans
Create a culture of accountability, service, and excellence
Hold every employee accountable for their performance and conduct
Revamp the performance evaluation system
Bolster critical whistleblower protections
Provide budgetary certainty
Ensure our veterans are buried with the honor, distinction, and integrity they deserve
Support smart compensation and benefits reform
Ensure reforms to military compensation and retirement benefits improve readiness for quality of life
Modernize the military health system
Adopting modern and inclusive personnel policies
Attracting millennials to military service
Zero-tolerance for Military Sexual Assault and Harassment
Welcoming women to compete for all military positions
Supporting the DoD policy review on transgender service
Promote family policies
Increase access to child care
Create flexibility around military moves
Expand military spouse employment initiatives
Champion efforts to care for our military members and families
Ensure continued focus on mental health for military members and their families
This morning, Hillary Rodham Clinton gave the keynote address for the Human Rights Campaign breakfast. During her speech, Clinton pledged to make LGBT rights a top priority as president. She urged Congress to pass the Federal Equality Act to end discrimination against the LGBT community and provide more openness in the US Military. She said, “I see the injustices and the dangers that you and your families still face and I’m running for president to end them once and for all.” Clinton then went on to criticize Republican presidential candidates, specifically Ben Carson and Senator Ted Cruz, for not supporting gay rights. Clinton has made LGBT rights central to her presidential campaign’s platform and vowed to continue fighting saying, “That’s a promise, from one HRC to another.”
Tonight, Clinton will make a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live. For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Hillary Clinton Speeches 