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President Biden oks change to filibuster for voting rights

Biden and the Vice-President Kamala Harris address the urgent need to pass legislation to protect the constitutional right to vote

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President Biden and Vice President Harris deliver voting rights speech in Atlanta via NBC News YouTube

ATLANTA – President Biden, after paying tribute to civil rights pioneer Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by leaving a wreath on his grave, brought the strength of his presidency to bear in a speech Tuesday in an effort to reform U.S. Senate rules to enact voting rights legislation.

“I’m making it clear, to protect our democracy, I support changing Senate rules whichever way they need to changed to prevent a minority of senators from blocking basic voting rights,” Biden said.

Biden has indicated before he supports changes to longstanding rules the Senate requiring 60 votes to end a filibuster and proceed with debate on legislation, but the speech marks an elevation of viewpoint in a more formal way and increases the pressure on fellow Democrats like Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), who oppose such a change.

Based on his words, Biden’s position on filibuster reform appears limited to voting rights legislation, which like so much other legislation has passed in the House and has stalled out in the Senate. The Washington Blade has placed a request in with the White House seeking comment on why, if Biden supports changing the filibuster for voting rights, why hasn’t he made the case for other issues, such as police reform or LGBTQ civil rights.

A major reason cited by Biden to bring the force of his presidency down on this issue: The attack on U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 instigated by President Trump, who falsely claimed he won the 2020 election against Biden.

Biden conjured images of the long road in the civil rights journey in the United States and a “violet riot” at the Capitol that Biden said undermined the process.

The recently enacted voter law in Georgia, which makes mail-in voting illegal, limits hours and locations for ballot drop boxes and bars the delivery of food and water to persons waiting in line to vote, was another major focus for Biden, who pointed out Republican lawmakers in Georgia put it in place after he won the state in 2020 and Trump pressured officials there to find more votes for him.

As a result, Biden said the “threat to democracy is so grave” he supports changes to the filibuster, which came about in use in the Senate from senators seeking to block civili rights legislation.

“If that bare minimum is blocked, we have no choice but change the Senate rules, including getting rid of the filibuster for this,” Biden said.

Biden identified two bills in his speech: the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which seeks to rectify a U.S. Supreme Court decision undermining the Voting Rights Act and the Freedom of the Vote Act, which would dramatically reform voting process, including the expansion of voting by mail and early voting.

Joining Biden in Atlanta in favor of changing rules to advance voting rights was Vice President Kamala Harris, who said “nowhere — nowhere — does the Constitution give a minority the right to unilaterally block legislation.”

“Over the past few years, we have seen so many anti-voter laws, that there is a danger of becoming accustomed to these laws, a danger of adjusting to these laws as though they are normal, a danger of becoming complacent, complicit,” Harris said. “Anti-voter laws are not new in our nation, but we must not be deceived into thinking they are normal.”

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President Biden and Vice President Harris deliver voting rights speech in Atlanta: 

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Full text of the president’s remarks:

In our lives and the lives of our nation — the life of our nation, there are moments so stark that they divide all that came before from everything that followed.  They stop time.  They rip away the trivial from the essential.  And they force us to confront hard truths about ourselves, about our institutions, and about our democracy.

In the words of Scripture, they remind us to “hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate.”

Last week, [Vice] President Harris and I stood in the United States Capitol to observe one of those “before and after” moments in American history: January 6th insurrection on the citadel of our democracy.

Today, we come to Atlanta — the cradle of civil rights — to make clear what must come after that dreadful day when a dagger was literally held at the throat of American democracy.

We stand on the grounds that connect Clark Atlanta — Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and near Spelman College — the home of generations of advocates, activists, educators and preachers; young people, just like the students here, who have done so much to build a better America. 

We visited the sacred Ebenezer Baptist Church and paused to prayed at the crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King, and spent time with their family.  And here in the district — as was pointed out — represented and reflected the life of beloved friend, John Lewis.

In their lifetimes, time stopped when a bomb blew up the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and murdered four little girls.

They [Time] stopped when John and many others seeking justice were beaten and bloodied while crossing the bridge at Selma named after the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan.

They stopped — time stopped, and they forced the country to confront the hard truths and to act — to act to keep the promise of America alive: the promise that holds that we’re all created equal but, more importantly, deserve to be treated equally.  And from those moments of darkness and despair came light and hope.

Democrats, Republicans, and independents worked to pass the historic Civil Rights Act and the voting rights legislation.  And each successive generation continued that ongoing work.

But then the violent mob of January 6th, 2021, empowered and encouraged by a defeated former president, sought to win through violence what he had lost at the ballot box, to impose the will of the mob, to overturn a free and fair election, and, for the first time — the first time in American history, they — to stop the peaceful transfer of power.

They failed.  They failed.  (Applause.)  But democracy’s — but democracy’s visi- — victory was not certain, nor is democracy’s future.

That’s why we’re here today to stand against the forces in America that value power over principle, forces that attempted a coup — a coup against the legally expressed will of the American people — by sowing doubt, inventing charges of fraud, and seeking to steal the 2020 election from the people.

They want chaos to reign.  We want the people to rule. 

But let me be clear: This is not about me or Vice President Harris or our party; it’s about all of us.  It’s about the people.  It’s about America.

Hear me plainly: The battle for the soul of America is not over.  We must stand strong and stand together to make sure January 6th marks not the end of democracy but the beginning of a renaissance of our democracy. 

You know, for the right to vote and to have that vote counted is democracy’s threshold liberty.  Without it, nothing is possible, but with it, anything is possible.

But while the denial of fair and free elections is un-democratic, it is not unprecedented.

Black Americans were denied full citizenship and voting rights until 1965.  Women were denied the right to vote until just 100 years ago.  The United States Supreme Court, in recent years, has weakened the Voting Rights Act.  And now the defeated former president and his supporters use the Big Lie about the 2020 election to fuel torrent and torment and anti-voting laws — new laws designed to suppress your vote, to subvert our elections.

Here in Georgia, for years, you’ve done the hard work of democracy: registering voters, educating voters, getting voters to the polls.  You’ve built a broad coalition of voters: Black, white, Latino, Asian American, urban, suburban, rural, working class, and middle class. 

And it’s worked: You’ve changed the state by bringing more people, legally, to the polls.  That’s how you won the historic elections of Senator Raphael Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff. 

You did it — you did it the right way, the democratic way.

And what’s been the reaction of Republicans in Georgia?  Choose the wrong way, the undemocratic way.  To them, too many people voting in a democracy is a problem.  So they’re putting up obstacles.

For example, voting by mail is a safe and convenient way to get more people to vote, so they’re making it harder for you to vote by mail. 

The same way, I might add, in the 2020 Election, President Trump voted from behind the desk in the White House — in Florida. 

Dropping your ballots off to secure drop boxes — it’s safe, it’s convenient, and you get more people to vote.  So they’re limiting the number of drop boxes and the hours you can use them. 

Taking away the options has a predictable effect: longer lines at the polls, lines that can last for hours.  You’ve seen it with your own eyes.  People get tired and they get hungry.

When the Bible teaches us to feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty, the new Georgia law actually makes it illegal — think of this — I mean, it’s 2020, and now ’22, going into that election — it makes it illegal to bring your neighbors, your fellow voters food or water while they wait in line to vote.  What in the hell — heck are we talking about?

I mean, think about it.  (Applause.)  That’s not America.  That’s what it looks like when they suppress the right to vote. 

And here’s how they plan to subvert the election: The Georgia Republican Party, the state legislature has now given itself the power to make it easier for partisan actors — their cronies — to remove local election officials. 

Think about that.  What happened in the last election?  The former president and allies pursued, threatened, and intimidated state and local election officials.

Election workers — ordinary citizens — were subject to death threats, menacing phone calls, people stalking them in their homes.

Remember what the defeated former president said to the highest-ranking election official — a Republican — in this state?  He said, quote, “I just want to find 11,780 votes.” 

Pray God. He didn’t say that part. 

He didn’t say, “Count the votes.”  He said, “find votes” that he needed to win.

He failed because of the courageous officials — Democrats, Republicans — who did their duty and upheld the law. 

But with this new law in Georgia, his loyal- — his loyalists will be placed in charge of state elections. What is that going to mean?  Well, the chances for chaos and subversion are even greater as partisans seek the result they want — no matter what the voters have said, no matter what the count.  The votes of nearly 5 million Georgians will be up for grabs if that law holds.

It’s not just here in Georgia.  Last year alone, 19 states not proposed but enacted 34 laws attacking voting rights.  There were nearly 400 additional bills Republican members of state legislatures tried to pass.  And now, Republican legislators in several states have already announced plans to escalate the onslaught this year.

Their endgame?  To turn the will of the voters into a mere suggestion — something states can respect or ignore.

Jim Crow 2.0 is about two insidious things: voter suppression and election subversion.  It’s no longer about who gets to vote; it’s about making it harder to vote.  It’s about who gets to count the vote and whether your vote counts at all.

It’s not hyperbole; this is a fact. 

Look, this matters to all of us.  The goal of the former president and his allies is to disenfranchise anyone who votes against them.  Simple as that.  The facts won’t matter; your vote won’t matter.  They’ll just decide what they want and then do it.

That’s the kind of power you see in totalitarian states, not in democracies. 

We must be vigilant.

And the world is watching.  I know the majority of the world leaders — the good and the bad ones, adversaries and allies alike.  They’re watching American democracy and seeing whether we can meet this moment.  And that’s not hyperbole.

When I showed up at the G7 with seven other world leaders — there were a total of nine present — Vice President Harris and I have spent our careers doing this work — I said, “America is back.”  And the response was, “For how long?”  “For how long?” 

As someone who’s worked in foreign policy my whole life, I never thought I would ever hear our allies say something like that.

Over the past year, we’ve directed federal agencies to promote access to voting, led by the Vice President.  We’ve appointed top civil rights advocates to help the U.S. Department of Justice, which has doubled its voting rights enforcement staff.

And today, we call on Congress to get done what history will judge: Pass the Freedom to Vote Act.  Pass it now — which would prevent voter suppression so that here in Georgia there’s full access to voting by mail, there are enough drop boxes during enough hours so that you can bring food and water as well to people waiting in line. 

The Freedom to Vote Act takes on election subversion to protect nonpartisan electors [election] officials, who are doing their job, from intimidation and interference.

It would get dark money out of politics, create fairer district maps and ending partisan gerrymandering. 

Look, it’s also time to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

I’ve been having these quiet conversations with the members of Congress for the last two months.  I’m tired of being quiet! 

Folks, it’ll restore the strength of the Voting Rights Act of ’65 — the one President Johnson signed after John Lewis was beaten, nearly killed on Bloody Sunday, only to have the Supreme Court weaken it multiple times over the past decade.

Restoring the Voting Rights Act would mean the Justice Department can stop discriminatory laws before they go into effect — before they go into effect.  
The Vice President and I have supported voting rights bills since day one of this administration.  But each and every time, Senate Republicans have blocked the way.  Republicans oppose even debating the issue.  You hear me?

I’ve been around the Senate a long time.  I was Vice President for eight years.  I’ve never seen a circumstance where not one single Republican has a voice that’s ready to speak for justice now.

When I was a senator, including when I headed up the Judiciary Committee, I helped reauthorize the Voting [Rights] Act three times.  We held hearings.  We debated.  We voted.  I was able to extend the Voting Rights Act for 25 years.

In 2006, the Voting Rights Act passed 390 to 33 in
the House of Representatives and 98 to 0 in the Senate with votes from 16 current sitting Republicans in this United States Senate.  Sixteen of them voted to extend it.

The last year I was chairman, as some of my friends sitting down here will tell you, Strom Thurmond voted to extend the Voting Rights Act.  Strom Thurmond.

But, folks, then it was signed into law, the last time, by President George W. Bush.

You know, when we got voting rights extended in the 1980s, as I’ve said, even Thurmond supported it.  Think about that.  The man who led the longest filibu- — one of the longest filibusters in history in the United States Senate in 1957 against the Voting Rights Act [Civil Rights Act].  The man who led and sided with the old Southern Bulls in the United States Senate to perpetuate segregation in this nation.  Even Strom Thurmond came to support voting rights.

But Republicans today can’t and won’t.  Not a single Republican has displayed the courage to stand up to a defeated president to protect America’s right to vote.  Not one.  Not one.

We have 50-50 in the United States Senate.  That means we have 51 presidents.  (Laughter.)  You all think I’m kidding. 

I’ve been pretty good at working with senators my whole career.  But, man, when you got 51 presidents, it gets harder.  Any one can change the outcome.

Sadly, the United States Senate — designed to be the world’s greatest deliberative body — has been rendered a shell of its former self.  It gives me no satisfaction in saying that, as an institutionalist, as a man who was honored to serve in the Senate.

But as an institutionalist, I believe that the threat to
our democracy is so grave that we must find a way to pass these voting rights bills, debate them, vote. 

Let the majority prevail.  And if that bare minimum is blocked, we have no option but to change the Senate rules, including getting rid of the filibuster for this.

You know, last year, if I’m not mistaken, the filibuster was used 154 times.  The filibuster has been used to generate compromise in the past and promote some bipartisanship.  But it’s also been used to obstruct — including and especially obstruct civil rights and voting rights.

And when it was used, senators traditionally used to have to stand and speak at their desks for however long it took, and sometimes it took hours.  And when they sat down, if no one immediately stood up, anyone could call for a vote or the debate ended.

But that doesn’t happen today.  Senators no longer even have to speak one word.  The filibuster is not used by Republicans to bring the Senate together but to pull it further apart.

The filibuster has been weaponized and abused.

While the state legislatures’ assault on voting rights is simple — all you need in your House and Senate is a pure majority — in the United States Senate, it takes a supermajority: 60 votes, even to get a vote — instead of 50 — to protect the right to vote.

State legislatures can pass anti-voting laws with simple majorities.  If they can do that, then the United States Senate should be able to protect voting rights by a simple majority. 

Today I’m making it clear: To protect our democracy, I support changing the Senate rules, whichever way they need to be changed — (applause) — to prevent a minority of senators from blocking action on voting rights. 

When it comes to protecting majority rule in America, the majority should rule in the United States Senate.  

I make this announcement with careful deliberation, recognizing the fundamental right to vote is the right from which all other rights flow.

And I make it with an appeal to my Republican colleagues, to those Republicans who believe in the rule of law: Restore the bipartisan tradition of voting rights. 

The people who restored it, who abided by it in the past were Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush.  They all supported the Voting Rights Act.

Don’t let the Republican Party morph into something else.  Restore the institution of the Senate the way it was designed to be.

Senate rules were just changed to raise the debt ceiling so we wouldn’t renege on our debt for the first time in our history and prevent an economic crisis.  That was done by a simple majority.

As Senator Warnock said a few weeks ago in a powerful speech: If we change the rules to protect the full faith and credit of the United States, we should be able to change the rules to protect the heart and soul of our democracy.  He was right.

In the days that followed John Lewis’s death, there was an outpouring of praise and support across the political spectrum.

But as we stand here today, it isn’t enough just to praise his memory.  We must translate eulogy into action.  We need to follow John Lewis’s footsteps.  We need to support the bill in his name.

Just a few days ago, we talked about — up in the Congress and in the White House — the event coming up shortly to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday.  And Americans of all stripes will praise him for the content of his character.

But as Dr. King’s family said before, it’s not enough to praise their father.  They even said: On this holiday, don’t celebrate his birthday unless you’re willing to support what he lived for and what he died for.  The next few days, when these bills come to a vote, will mark a turning point in this nation’s history.

We will choose — the issue is: Will we choose democracy over autocracy, light over shadows, justice over injustice? 

I know where I stand.  I will not yield.  I will not flinch.  I will defend the right to vote, our democracy against all enemies — foreign and, yes, domestic. 

And the question is: Where will the institution of the United States Senate stand?  Every senator — Democrat, Republican, and independent — will have to declare where they stand, not just for the moment, but for the ages.

Will you stand against voter suppression?  Yes or no?  That’s the question they’ll answer.  Will you stand against election subversion?  Yes or no?  Will you stand for democracy?  Yes or no?

And here’s one thing every senator and every American should remember: History has never been kind to those who have sided with voter suppression over voters’ rights.  And it will be even less kind for those who side with election subversion.

So, I ask every elected official in America: How do you want to be remembered? 

At consequential moments in history, they present a choice: Do you want to be the si- — on the side of Dr. King or George Wallace?  Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor?  Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis?

This is the moment to decide to defend our elections, to defend our democracy. 

And if you do that, you will not be alone.  That’s because the struggle to protect voting rights has never been borne by one group alone.

We saw Freedom Riders of every race.  Leaders of every faith marching arm in arm.  And, yes, Democrats and Republicans in Congress of the United States and in the presidency.

I did not live the struggle of Douglass, Tubman, King, Lewis, Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner, and countless others — known and unknown.

I did not walk in the shoes of generations of students who walked these grounds.  But I walked other grounds.  Because I’m so damn old, I was there as well. 

You think I’m kidding, man. It seems like yesterday the first time I got arrested.  Anyway —

But their struggles here — they were the ones that opened my eyes as a high school student in the late — in the late ’50s and early ’60s.  They got me more engaged in the work of my life.

And what we’re talking about today is rooted in the very idea of America — the idea that Annell Ponder, who graduated from Clark Atlanta, captured in a single word.  She was a teacher and librarian who was also an unyielding champion of voting rights.

In 1963 — when I was just starting college at university — after registering voters in Mississippi, she was pulled off a bus, arrested, and jailed, where she was brutally beaten.

In her cell, next to her, was Fannie Lou Hamer, who described the beating this way, and I quote: “I could hear the sounds of [the] licks and [the] horrible screams…They beat her, I don’t know [for] how long.  And after a while, she began to pray, and asked God to have mercy on those people.”

Annell Ponder’s friends visited her the next day.  Her face was badly swollen.  She could hardly talk.

But she managed to whi- — whisper one word: “Freedom.”  “Freedom” — the only word she whispered.

After nearly 250 years since our founding, that singular idea still echoes.  But it’s up to all of us to make sure it never fades, especially the students here — your generation that just started voting — as there are those who are trying to take away that vi- — vote you just started to be able to exercise. 

But the giants we honor today were your age when they made clear who we must be as a nation.  Not a joke.  Think about it.  In the early ’60s, they were sitting where you’re sitting.  They were you.  And like them, you give me much hope for the future.

Before and after in our lives — and in the life of the nation — democracy is who we are, who we must be — now and forever.  So, let’s stand in this breach together.  Let’s love good, establish justice in the gate. 

And remember, as I said, there is one — this is one of those defining moments in American history: Each of those who vote will be remembered by class after class, in the ’50s and ’60s — the 2050s and ’60s.  Each one of the members of the Senate is going to be judged by history on where they stood before the vote and where they stood after the vote. 

There’s no escape.  So, let’s get back to work. 

As my fath- — my grandfather Finnegan used to say every time I walked out the door in Scranton, he’d say, “Joey, keep the faith.”  Then he’d say, “No, Joey, spread it.” 

Let’s spread the faith and get this done. 

May God bless you all.  And may God protect the sacred right to vote. Thank you.  I mean it.  Let’s go get this done.  Thank you. 

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Political commentary & analysis

Southern states push bills ending legal recognition for trans people

Louisiana, Mississippi, & Alabama all advancing bills that “define sex” to exclude trans people from any legal recognition of their gender

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Los Angeles Blade graphic

By Erin Reed | WASHINGTON – The pace of anti-transgender legislation has slowed in recent weeks, with several states, known for previously targeting transgender individuals, failing to pass any such laws.

However, a different dynamic is emerging across the Gulf South, where three states are advancing bills that would cease the legal recognition of transgender individuals, potentially having significant repercussions for their trans residents. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are introducing bills to define sex in a manner that excludes transgender individuals, potentially affecting birth certificates, driver’s licenses, bathroom access, and more.

The bills, dubbed the “Women’s Bills of Rights” by their supporters, fall far short of actually protecting women’s rights. They fail to protect access to birth control or abortion, do not ensure equitable pay, neither allocate funds for nor promote women’s athletics, and lack any provisions designed to curb violence against women. Instead, they categorize sex based on reproductive capabilities and ends legal recognition of transgender individuals’ gender identities.

In Louisiana, House Bill 608 was introduced with a staggering 63 Republican co-sponsors, signaling a strong opposition to any efforts to lobby against the bill. While its primary focus seems to be on restricting bathroom access in schools, prisons, and shelters, a particular section of the bill indicates that “any provision of law enacted by the legislature or any rule adopted by a state agency or other entity subject to the Administrative Procedures Act when applicable to an individual’s sex shall apply those definitions provided in R.S. 9:58.” This provision could lead to the banning of changes to birth certificates and driver’s licenses, effectively ending all legal recognition for transgender individuals. The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing, but given the substantial support it has garnered, its progression through the legislative process is anticipated to be swift once it begins.

In Mississippi, Senate Bill 2753 and House Bill 1607 have successfully passed their respective chambers. House Bill 1607 defines sex based on reproductive capacity, and puzzlingly states that for transgender individuals, “equal” does not mean “same” or “identical.” Notably, the bill does not provide a definition for “equal,” a term also left undefined in similar legislation in other states. This ambiguity sparked debate over a comparable bill in Iowa, which is currently stalled in the legislature there in part because of disagreements over that line. As for Senate Bill 2753, it would ban bathroom access for transgender individuals in publicly owned facilities, such as rest stops and the Jacksonville airport.

In Alabama, House Bills 111 and 130 similarly target transgender individuals. House Bill 111 specifies sex based on reproductive capacity for all vital statistics purposes. Meanwhile, HB 130, although not directly defining sex, will reportedly be amended to add language that extends “Don’t Say Gay” legislation to Space Camp. This addition comes after conservative media expressed outrage over a transgender individual being employed at the state’s renowned Space Camp and could be used to target transgender employees in state facilities.

So far, only five states have passed similar legislation: Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. In Kansas, a judge has recently ruled in favor of Attorney General Kris Kobach that drivers licenses and birth certificates must contain transgender people’s old assigned sex at birth, citing the law there. Meanwhile, although such a law does not exist in Florida, rule changes have resulted in a lack of ability for transgender people to change their drivers licenses; reportedly, Florida residents are unable to change their birth certificates as well. Additionally, Oklahoma and Nebraska have executive orders defining sex similarly.

You can see a map of states from the Movement Advancement Project with such legislation here:

Movement Advancement Project. “Equality Maps: Defining ‘Sex’ to Allow Discrimination.”. Accessed 3/18/2024.

Should these bills become law, an increasing number of states will not legally recognize transgender individuals. The implications of such legislation are profound: individuals who have long since updated their identity documents may face the reversion of those documents back to their assigned sex at birth. These state-issued identification documents could then be employed to enforce additional anti-transgender laws, including bathroom bans. Moreover, these restrictions are bound to create complications for transgender individuals who have legally updated their federal documents to align with their gender identity, as these documents would conflict with their state-issued ones.

There have been calls for a federal legal response to bills that outlaw gender markers and refuse legal recognition to transgender people. For instance, in Florida, the entire Democratic congressional delegation asked the Biden Administration to use the Real ID act, which mandates “gender” be listed on drivers licenses. There has been no response to that request as of Monday.

Multiple lawsuits are underway trying to reverse the laws in court where they have passed, but the legal outcomes are currently pending.

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Erin Reed is a transgender woman (she/her pronouns) and researcher who tracks anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the world and helps people become better advocates for their queer family, friends, colleagues, and community. Reed also is a social media consultant and public speaker.

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The preceding article was first published at Erin In The Morning and is republished with permission.

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California Politics

Prosecuting the status quo, Rollins is running for a U.S. House seat

He stressed the urgency of passing the Equality Act to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

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Courtesy of Will Rollins

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – In a bid to challenge the status quo and bring accountability to Washington, former federal prosecutor Will Rollins has advanced to the ballot in his pursuit of a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent California’s 41st Congressional District this November.

He will face Republican incumbent Ken Calvert in a rematch of the 2022 campaign for the seat that saw Rollins defeated by Calvert. Of the total vote count of 236,638, Calvert garnered 123,869 votes to Rollins’ 112,769.

Rollins is a seasoned legal professional with a focus on counterterrorism and counterintelligence cases. His decision to run for Congress stems from a deep-rooted concern for the threats facing democracy and communities, exacerbated by what he perceives as the extremism and corruption entrenched in current political structures.

Rollins lives in the desert city of Palm Springs with his partner of 13 years, Paolo Benvenuto. While they have no children of their own, Rollins emphasized that they love their role of being “Guncles” to their nieces and nephews. 

Courtesy of Will Rollins

Rollins’s upbringing in a family with bipartisan affiliations has deeply influenced his perspective on governance and reform. 

Growing up amidst discussions of legal proceedings and journalistic pursuits, Rollins developed a multifaceted understanding of societal dynamics and the importance of a free press. His father’s career as a journalist, including an encounter with notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, imbued Rollins with a deep respect for the power of print media in shaping public discourse and holding authority to account.

“I was raised to appreciate the intricate balance between law enforcement’s duty to protect and uphold constitutional rights,” Rollins said. “It’s about ensuring safety while also safeguarding individual liberties and holding those in power accountable.”

Rollins’s journey from the courtroom to the campaign trail embodies a fusion of legal acumen, familial influence, and a commitment to democratic ideals. 

As he progresses through the primaries, Rollins seeks to bridge partisan divides and champion a platform rooted in justice, integrity, and the collective well-being of Californians in the 41st District.

A Personal Journey Toward Equality

The catalyst for Rollins’s interest in counterintelligence and military service traces back to a pivotal moment during his junior year of high school. He recalled the profound impact the events of 9/11 had on his worldview. 

“My heightened interest came  when I was junior year in high school, and I went into my first class of the day which was Model UN. We watched on the West Coast as the North Tower collapsed. That had a profound impact on me seeing other Americans covered in ash, and being scared. I remember being scared.” 

It was around this time that Rollins toyed with the idea of following in the footsteps of his veteran grandparents and enlisting in the military. However, being closeted in a society where discriminatory laws like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” prevailed added layers of complexity to his decision.

“Being closeted and watching the stories of Arabic linguist being discharged under don’t ask don’t tell at the time created very complicated and difficult emotion to experience as kid. You want to serve your country and you want to be part of a team, but you have your government telling you that there is something defective about you and that you pose a threat to national security. That is horrible. I don’t think any kid should grow up feeling that.”

He emphasizes the detrimental effects of discriminatory laws on individuals and society as a whole, advocating for equality and merit-based opportunities for all Americans.

“That experience did shape a lot of my outlook on antidiscrimination laws, and why quality and freedom for everybody makes the whole country stronger. You have to let people thrive based on merit, not based on what they look like or who they love.”

Reflecting on his delayed coming out, Rollins acknowledges the regret and internal conflict he grappled with for years. 

Courtesy of Will Rollins

“I regret not being able to accept myself sooner because it was so limiting you end up living your life for fear of what other people think rather than for yourself that has a major impact, not an individuals but our society collectively, and that’s part of the argument that I always try to make to voters.”

Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Rights and Economic Thriving

Rollins emphasized the critical need for advocacy and support for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in Riverside County.

“Growing up in the greater LA area where people assume that it is progressive, and they assume that everybody embraces LGBT rights and that they have for a long time. Unfortunately, that is just not the reality.” 

When the the Murrieta Valley Unified School District adopted neighboring Chino Valley Unified’s policy notifying parents of student gender identity, Rollins said that fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and protection in California is at the forefront of his concerns. 

“You hear people talking about LGBT kids as dangerous. There is a reversion to this 1950’s idea that being LGBT is contagious fueled by the rhetoric on the Right about grooming,” he said.

Rollins passionately articulated the importance of representation and empowerment for LGBTQ+ youth, stressing the message that there is nothing wrong with being true to oneself. “We need to punch back as LGBTQ+ elected officials; that is really important,” Rollins asserted. “You have to make kids know that there is nothing wrong with them and that they should be proud of who they are.”

Furthermore, Rollins condemned the far-right’s obsession with demonizing vulnerable populations, particularly through legislative measures targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. He criticized laws such as mandatory outing bills and teacher surveillance laws, which he believes undermine the principles of small government touted by traditional Republican values.

“The traditional John McCain, small government, and Dwight Eisenhower Republicans wouldn’t recognize the modern turn that the GOP has taken,” Rollins said. 

Highlighting  the detrimental impact of such policies, not only on the targeted individuals but also on the broader community and economy, Rollins cited the example of a gay pediatric surgeon in New Orleans who left the state due to discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQ+ families. This departure not only affected the surgeon and his family, but also deprived the community of vital medical expertise, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.

The example underscored the urgent need for advocacy to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity, emphasizing that the well-being and prosperity of the community are intertwined with the protection of LGBTQ+ rights. 

Struggles with Identity and Society’s Perceptions

Rollins shared the challenges he faced in coming to terms with his identity and the pervasive societal stereotypes that influenced his journey.

Rollins revealed that it wasn’t until his early twenties that he found the courage to come out, attributing his prolonged denial to growing up in a community where the existence of gay individuals was largely unseen or dismissed. 

“The image that I had from society and from my peers was that gay people were jokes; we were the comic relief,” Rollins lamented.

Despite growing up in a progressive family, Rollins recalled the impact of societal attitudes, particularly within sports culture, on his perception of masculinity and sexuality.

“I didn’t think I could be good at sports and be gay,” Rollins admitted. “That was the rhetoric perpetuated by the coaches.” 

Rollins described the prevalence of derogatory language and stereotypes, perpetuated by peers and coaches alike, which led him to internalize feelings of inadequacy and denial about his own identity.

“When you are a young man and about to get in a fight, what are the first words that come out of your opponent’s mouth? They call you a faggot to demoralize you and emasculate you, regardless of your actual orientation.”

Rollins highlighted the profound effect of societal demonization of gay individuals, emphasizing the difficulty for young people to navigate their identity without visible role models or support systems. 

“You get into a position where you start denying who you are to yourself because you think that it makes you less than.”

Rollins said it took him many years to realize that the issue lay not with himself, but with a society that perpetuated harmful stereotypes and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community – stereotypes he hopes to help eradicate if he is elected to office. 

Priorities for Congressional Term

Rollins laid out his key priorities should he be elected, ranging from civil rights to economic revitalization.

Courtesy of Will Rollins

Rollins, who played a role as a Assistant U.S. Attorney in tracking down individuals involved in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, expressed his frustration with incumbent Congressman Calvert’s actions, particularly regarding the certification of the election results and his stance on LGBTQ+ rights. Rollins cited Calvert’s voting record of homophobia as motivating factors for his decision to run for office.

“You shouldn’t be fired from your job or kicked out of your home just for being gay that is still a possibility in America.”

Among Rollins’s top priorities is the protection of voting rights, emphasizing the importance of ensuring equal access to the ballot box for all Americans. He also stressed the urgency of passing the Equality Act to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, highlighting the need for comprehensive federal protections.

Addressing local concerns, Rollins emphasized the need for improved infrastructure in Riverside County, particularly to alleviate traffic congestion. 

“Traffic sucks whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat,” Rollins said. “I think we can all agree on that.”

He also criticized corporate greed, which he believes is driving up prices and exacerbating financial strain on middle-class families.

“Corporate greed right now is driving up prices for average working families in so many different contacts, whether it’s baby formula or milk, whether it’s your groceries or your gas. A lot of this is driven by massive concentration of wealth by corporations and individuals who pay for less in taxes than nurses, cops, and firefighters. This is a fundamental issue that Washington has let go for way too long.”

Rollins highlighted Palm Springs as an example of effective governance, praising the city’s inclusive policies and economic growth. He emphasized the importance of visible representation for the LGBTQ+ community and underscored the economic benefits of creating welcoming and inclusive communities.

Additionally, Rollins pledged to prioritize women’s rights, including the codification of Roe v. Wade into federal law, in response to concerns about reproductive rights and access to healthcare.

“Women’s rights right now are at the forefront of my priorities,” Rollins told The Blade. 

As Rollins continues his campaign, his platform reflects a commitment to social justice, economic prosperity, and inclusive governance, with a focus on addressing the pressing needs of Riverside County residents. If elected, Rollins aims to bring his experience and values to Congress, advocating for meaningful change and progress on behalf of his constituents.

Closing Thoughts

Rollins gave the following message for young queer leaders of tomorrow.
“The American dream is a possibility for you too. We are going to work hard every single day to make sure it becomes a reality. I hate to use the cliché, It gets better, but it really does and once you find your family, the possibilities are endless. I know it can be really dark sometimes. I’ve been there myself. But we are resilient and your resilience will pay in the long run too. I think that 2024 is going to send a lot of people who believe in our freedom of equality into Congress and so stay optimistic and thank you for hanging in there.”

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Dallas Harris, community advocacy & dedication to public service

Her vision for a more livable and diverse city promises to shape the future trajectory of one of the nation’s most dynamic urban centers

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Democratic State Senator Dallas Harris speaking at a Las Vegas event in 2023. (Photo Credit: Office of State Senator Dallas Harris)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Democratic State Senator Dallas Harris, a prominent figure in Nevada’s progressive political landscape, who serves as the Chief Majority Whip in the Senate, recently granted The Blade an exclusive interview delving into her experiences as a mother, wife, lawyer, and legislator. 

On December 4, 2018, the Clark County Commission appointed Harris to represent the 11th District, replacing Sen. Aaron Ford (D) who assumed the role of Attorney General. In the legislature, Dallas focuses on criminal justice reform, LGBTQ issues, and advocating for underserved communities. 

A steadfast dedication to public service has marked Dallas’s trajectory. From 2015 to 2017, she served as a Policy Extern at Public Knowledge, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., advocating for expanded broadband access and consumer protections. Dallas then returned to her roots in Nevada, where she served as an Administrative Attorney at the Public Utilities Commission, gaining firsthand experience in state government and utility regulation.

Since August 2019, Dallas has served as a Consumer Rights Attorney in the Adult Guardianship Project at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, where she continues to champion the rights of vulnerable populations. 

Outside of her legislative duties, Dallas is Of Counsel at Davison Van Cleve, a law firm specializing in energy law. 

Dallas lives with her wife of five years, Summer Thomas-Harris, and their two children ages 12 and 2. 

A Love for Las Vegas

Harris spent her formative years in the bustling heart of Sin City, where her journey toward public service and advocacy began.

“I was born in the eighties, and I’ve seen the city grow quite a bit since then,” Harris told The Blade. “I like seeing the growth.” 

Harris proudly described Las Vegas as a “gem” that people have been “stumbling upon.”

“I like that there are so many folks realizing how nice it is here. The weather is great and, until recently, the cost-of-living was pretty low.”

“Another thing I love that has changed is that we now have home teams that are actually doing very well,” said Harris, who enjoys frequenting Las Vegas Aces games with her wife and friends. 

Harris expressed her relief that her cherished city doesn’t suffer from the overcrowding and congestion plaguing other urban hubs. However, with Biden’s recent announcement of a $3 billion grant for constructing a high-speed rail, promising to slash the commute time from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to a mere two and a half hours of comfortable, air-conditioned travel with Wi-Fi access, the once-intimate atmosphere of Vegas is bound to experience a significant influx of residents in the near future.

But Harris said she is not worried. 

“People from Southern California have always wanted to come to Las Vegas,” Harris said. “We have always been a draw for people trying to get away from the busy life of Southern California and find some adult fun in Las Vegas. The rail is going to make it a lot easier for that to continue to happen, but the relationship between Southern California and Las Vegas has been there for a very long time.”

Queerness

The senator reflected on her upbringing and the role models who paved the way for his authenticity.

“I could never really hide my queerness,” Harris said, highlighting her lifelong journey towards self-acceptance. “It’s never been an option for me ever since I was very, very young.”

Acknowledging the progressive environment of her upbringing in Nevada, Senator Harris credited political predecessors like Senator David Parks for fostering an inclusive atmosphere: “My childhood was in the top 90% of what it could’ve been in America in terms of openness about being queer,” she said. “I realize that it took the intentionality of folks like Senator David Parks to create this environment for a kid like me to grow up in”

Senator Parks was the first openly LGBTQ Nevada lawmaker in the legislature.

However, Senator Harris also acknowledged the challenges she faced, particularly from family members with religious views. “Some family members had religious views and sort of an underlying uncomfortableness about all of this,” she revealed. “It was underneath the surface. It was definitely there…But I just kept going.”

Despite these challenges, Senator Harris emphasized the importance of perseverance and the support of loved ones. Laughing, she said, “Sometimes I think my mom likes my wife better than she likes me.”

Work/Life Balance

Courtesy of Dallas Harris

“The work-life balance is tough,” admitted Senator Harris. “I think it’s hard on anyone who does something like this.” She highlighted the demanding nature of her job, where she is essentially away from home for months at a time due to legislative sessions. 

Adding to the complexity, Senator Harris and her wife both have full-time jobs, further complicating their efforts to balance work and family responsibilities. “It can be a struggle to give yourself enough to all of those different identities,” said Harris. “It’s not a walk in the park.”

To navigate the chaos, Senator Harris and her wife rely heavily on meticulous scheduling. 

“We use lots of scheduling. We have a meal plan. We sit down and plan out our entire week every Sunday,” she explained. This proactive approach ensures they stay organized and know who is responsible for childcare, school pickups, and other daily tasks.

Despite the challenges, Senator Harris emphasized the importance of prioritizing her marriage amidst the chaos. “We have been working to carve more space out for us,” she said. “We try to have time with other adults and have fun but also find time for us to connect.”

Reflecting on her role as a mother, Senator Harris highlighted the insights she gained into the realities faced by many women in the workforce. 

“The thing about being a mother that has affected my view is not just the fact of having a child but the fact of managing a family,” she shared. “Because that is what we so often are in the US. We are the managers of a family. I think I better understand now what it’s like for women to be in politics and for women to be in power.”

Tennant Landlord Laws

Harris, whose personal experiences deeply influence her legislative approach, shared her perspective on tenant-landlord laws. 

Growing up with a single mother and moving frequently, Harris gained firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by tenants, particularly in dealing with security deposits and maintenance issues.

Reflecting on her upbringing, Senator Harris emphasized the impact of living in apartments with 12-month leases where rent increases often necessitated frequent moves. “I’ve lived in a lot of apartments,” she stated, highlighting the frustration of tenants who diligently clean their units only to face disputes over security deposit deductions. “You clean the apartment from top to bottom, but the landlord still claims you owe them something from the security deposit,” Harris recalled. “I know that fight.”

Senator Harris’s commitment to addressing these issues was evident in a bill she introduced Senate Bill 381, a measure aimed at protecting tenants from being charged for repairs and maintenance tasks that are the responsibility of landlords. The bill, sponsored by Senators D. Harris, Donate, Spearman, Flores, Daly, Krasner, Lange, Neal, Ohrenschall, Scheible, and Stone, received approval from both the Senate and Assembly.

Existing law in Nevada mandates landlords to maintain dwelling units in habitable conditions throughout a tenant’s stay. SB 381 reinforces this requirement by prohibiting landlords from imposing fees or charges on tenants for repairs, maintenance tasks, or other work that the landlord is obligated to perform to maintain the habitability of the unit.

Courtesy of Nevada state Sen. Dallas Harris

Education

Growing up, Harris found her passion not just in the bright lights but also in sports and education. She actively participated in various youth sports, with a particular fondness for tennis, basketball, and Taekwondo. Due to her frequent moves, Harris navigated through several schools across Clark County, including Parsons Elementary, Swainston Middle School, Lied Middle School, Las Vegas Academy (where she majored in Theatre), and Green Valley High School. 

After graduating from Green Valley High School, Dallas embarked on her higher education journey at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). In 2008, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, followed by another Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science in 2009. Eager to delve deeper into policy and public service, Dallas ventured to Southern California to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy at Claremont Graduate University. Her studies focused on economics, policy analysis, and statistics, providing her with a robust understanding of the intricacies of policymaking.

With a thirst for knowledge and a drive to effect change, Dallas then set her sights on law school, making her way to the nation’s capital. She enrolled at the George Washington University Law School, where she honed her legal acumen and gained invaluable insights into the intersection of law and policy. In 2005, Dallas emerged from law school equipped with a new perspective and a determination to make a difference.

Harris’ diverse educational experiences in the Clark County School District laid the foundation for her commitment to improving education in Nevada. Through Senat Bill 543, Harris was able to revise what she called an “archaic” school funding formula to allow for a substantial increase in school funding throughout Nevada. 

Gun Reform

In a move aimed at tightening firearm regulations and addressing hate-motivated crimes, Harris introduced Senate Bill No. 171. The bill, sponsored by Senators D. Harris, Spearman, Donate, Flores, Ohrenschall, and Scheible, sought to prohibit the purchase, possession, or ownership of firearms by individuals convicted of violent hate crimes, as well as to impose a ten year cooling off period for those who had committed any nonviolent crimes. 

Under existing laws, crimes committed with motives such as race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity are punishable as gross misdemeanors. Additionally, individuals convicted of certain crimes are already prohibited from firearm ownership.

Harris told the Blade that she was disappointed that the bill was ultimately vetoed, as it represents what The Senator sees as a glaring misstep in the handling of gun distribution in her state. With school and mass shootings ever increasing throughout the US, Harris plans to continue to push for gun law reform.

HIV Modernization

In a proactive step towards strengthening public health initiatives, Senator Harris played a pivotal role in fortifying Senate Bill 275, a comprehensive legislative initiative tackling communicable diseases. The bill , which garnered bipartisan backing, introduces crucial provisions aimed at elevating disease prevention and control strategies statewide. Notably, the bill seeks to transform the approach towards HIV, recognizing it as a medical diagnosis rather than a criminal offense—a significant shift towards destigmatizing and addressing the condition effectively.

One of the notable aspects of SB 275 is the authorization for the appointment of quarantine officers when necessary to enforce quarantine measures. This provision aims to strengthen the enforcement of quarantine protocols, particularly during public health emergencies.

Additionally, the bill empowers health authorities to adopt reasonable fees for issuing or renewing health permits or licenses required by state law or local ordinances. These fees are designated to cover the costs associated with issuing permits and conducting related investigations, without relying on general revenue.

Moreover, the legislation emphasizes the importance of public health measures over criminalization in addressing the spread of communicable diseases. It underscores the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes public health interventions.

Additionally, it allows for testing and disclosure of information related to exposure to communicable diseases under specific circumstances while emphasizing confidentiality and the protection of personal information.

Courtesy of Dallas Harris

Looking Forward

Senator Dallas Harris, known for her advocacy for community well-being and economic growth, recently shared her vision for the future of Las Vegas. In her aspiration for an ideal Las Vegas, she emphasized the importance of creating a more accessible and pedestrian-friendly city.

“My ideal Las Vegas of the future would have more bike lanes and more walkable areas and more centralized zones,” Harris said. “Everything would be a little bit closer together…. Quality of life would go up in that way. “

Her vision aligns with efforts to enhance the livability of the city, making it easier for residents and visitors to move around and access amenities without relying heavily on cars. By prioritizing walkability and bike-friendly infrastructure, Harris’ vision aims to improve public health, reduce traffic congestion, and promote a sense of community connectivity.

Moreover, Senator Harris highlighted the importance of economic diversification in ensuring the city’s resilience and prosperity. “I would like to see more diversification in our economy,” she said. “I would love to see our economy get even stronger by broadening out and inviting in all of the different industries.”

By fostering a more diverse economy, Las Vegas could potentially reduce its reliance on a single industry, such as tourism and hospitality, and create more opportunities for growth and innovation across various sectors. This approach not only strengthens the city’s economic foundation but also enhances its resilience to external shocks and changes in the global market.

As Senator Dallas Harris continues to advocate for the interests and well-being of Las Vegas residents, her vision for a more livable and diverse city promises to shape the future trajectory of one of the nation’s most dynamic urban centers.

Finally, Harris shared a message for future young leaders: “There’s nothing to it but to do it,” Harris told The Blade. “If you want to run, nobody can tell you no.”

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Biden campaign calls out Trump for meeting with Viktor Orbán

“Orbán opposes democracy, LGBTQ rights, cracked down on judiciary, press in his and rigged his political system to keep himself in power”

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visits Donald Trump at the White House in May 2019 (Screen capture: YouTube/Guardian News)

WILMINGTON, Del. — The Biden-Harris reelection campaign issued a statement on Monday criticizing former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, for hosting anti-LGBTQ+ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend.

“To remind everyone,” the statement reads in part, “Viktor Orbán opposes democracy and LGBTQ rights, has cracked down on the judiciary and press in his country, and rigged his political system to keep himself in power.”

The campaign noted Trump was effusive in his praise for Orbán, about whom he said “there’s nobody that’s better, smarter, or a better leader,” echoing comments about the Hungarian leader that he made at a rally in January.

The statement also drew attention to reports that Trump, during their meeting, promised “that he would not give a “penny” to Ukraine in their fight against Russian thug Vladimir Putin – giving Putin the greatest gift he could hope for.”

President Joe Biden also took aim at his 2024 rival over the weekend. “You know who he’s meeting with today down at Mar-a-Lago?” Biden told supporters at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. “Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works, he’s looking for dictatorship.”

related

When Trump held a meeting with Orbán at the White House in May 2019, The New York Times noted that during their presidencies, George W. Bush had “dodged” and Barack Obama had “refused” to invite the far-right prime minister to the Oval Office.

Since he took office in 2010, Orbán’s policies concerning LGBTQ+ rights have been informed by his belief that they are “not compatible with Christian values.”

In 2020, he ended Hungary’s legal recognition of transgender people. The following year, his party proposed legislation to censor “pro-LGBT+ content” in movies, books, and public advertisements – which earned comparisons to Russia’s infamous law against so-called “homosexual propaganda.” And in 2023, Hungary’s parliament passed legislation that allows citizens to anonymously report same-sex couples who are raising children.

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De Niro on Trump: He’s such a mean, nasty, hateful person…”

Robert De Niro tells Bill Maher that the bottom line is that it’s Biden versus Trump warning the former president intends to be a dictator

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Oscar-winning actor and film producer Robert De Niro gets real about his feelings toward former President Donald Trump on Friday March 8. (Screenshot/YouTube Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO)

LOS ANGELES – Appearing on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher program Friday night, Oscar-winning actor and film producer Robert De Niro tells Maher regarding Donald Trump: “I’d never play him as an actor, because I can’t see any good in him. Nothing.”

“The bottom line is, it’s Biden versus Trump. We want to live in a world that we want to live in and enjoy living in, not live in a nightmare. Vote for Trump – you’ll get a nightmare. Vote for Biden and we’ll be back to normalcy,” the actor said.

“I just don’t want to feel the way I did, and many of us don’t, after the election in 2016 where we couldn’t believe that it happened. The guy is a total monster. If he wins the election, you won’t be on this show anymore. He’ll come looking for me. There’ll be things that happen that none of us can imagine. That’s what happens in that kind of a dictatorship, which is what he says. Let’s believe and take him at his word. He’s a sociopathic, psychopathic, malignant narcissist,” De Niro told Maher.

Predictably the former president responded on his Truth social media account ranting:

Watch:

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State of the Union: Biden defends trans folks asks for Equality Act

Biden spoke in defense of the transgender community, called for passage of the Equality Act and voiced his opposition to book bans

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President Joe Biden speaks at the 2024 State of the Union. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden spoke in defense of the transgender community, called for passage of the Equality Act and voiced his opposition to book bans during his 2024 State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress on Thursday.

“Banning books,” he said, “It’s wrong! Instead of erasing history, let’s make history!”

The president added, “I want to protect other fundamental rights! Pass the Equality Act and my message to transgender Americans: I have your back!”

First introduced decades ago, the Equality Act would codify LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination rules in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit and jury service.

“My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy,” Biden said, “A future based on the core values that have defined America: Honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor.”

He then drew a contrast between this vision and the worldview of his political opponents.

“Now some other people my age see a different story: An American story of resentment, revenge and retribution,” Biden said. “That’s not me.”

Shortly into his speech, the president took aim at Republicans who supported the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, that was fomented by former President Donald Trump. Without using his name, Biden then inveighed against his presumptive 2024 GOP rival for refusing to abide protections for NATO allied countries and appointing U.S. Supreme Court justices who have taken rights away from Americans.

Reproductive freedom was a major theme of the speech. Biden touted the electoral wins for Democrats in 2022 and 2023 that were attributed to the mobilization of voters, especially women, who were outraged by the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion.

Repeating a promise that he has often made, in the aftermath of that ruling, Biden said “If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again.”

Most of the president’s address, however, concerned economic accomplishments of his administration over the past three years and plans for policies like a 25 percent minimum tax rate for billionaires “that would raise that would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years.”

Biden also addressed provisions of the bipartisan immigration bill that House Republicans — under pressure from Trump, because he wants to campaign on the issue — vowed to oppose, even though it contained many of the policy changes they have long pushed for.

At this point, Republican members heckled the president.

Drawing another distinction between his approach to immigration reform and his predecessor’s, Biden said, “I will not demonize immigrants saying they’re poisoning the blood of our country. I will not separate families. I will not ban people because of their faith.”

As expected, the president acknowledged that Thursday marked the 59th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the civil rights march from Selma, Ala., to Birmingham, which was led by the late-Congressman John Lewis, who was then a 25-year-old activist.

“There are forces taking us back in time,” Biden said. “Voter suppression. Election subversion. Unlimited dark money. Extreme gerrymandering.”

“John Lewis was a great friend to many of us here,” he said, calling on Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to honor him and his legacy.

LGBTQ leaders praise Biden’s speech

In a statement, GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis wrote “President Biden accurately included LGBTQ people in the greatness of American diversity and the fight for fundamental freedoms. The freedom of LGBTQ people to be ourselves, to live in peace and not be discriminated against, to read books about our lives, to have our votes and voices count, are connected to everyone’s freedoms.”

@POTUS just reaffirmed solidarity with trans folks across America,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson wrote in a post on X. “We know visibility and allyship matters, especially in times of crisis. This support by President Biden is a critical step in the fight for equality.”

(Blade photo by Michael Key)
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Biden campaign messaging: Trump’s threat to LGBTQ rights

The bottom line here is he has created the conditions — legally, executively, and culturally — to attack and undermine LGBTQ Americans

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President Donald Trump talks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday, June 26, 2019, prior to boarding Marine One. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

WILMINGTON, Del. –In an exclusive interview with the Washington Blade on Thursday, officials with the Biden-Harris reelection campaign explained their strategy for reminding voters of how the rights of LGBTQ Americans were under attack during former President Donald Trump’s first term in office, while also demonstrating how and why a second term would be far worse.

The officials said the LGBTQ-focused messaging in the months ahead will be informed to a large extent by Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s 881-page blueprint for Trump’s return to power that would reshape American government by advancing a Christian nationalist agenda.

“We at the campaign are using Project 2025 as an umbrella term for anything and everything that is being proposed by Trump and folks who are aligned with Trump,” an official said.

With respect to Trump’s record, he said the campaign will point out instances in which the former president, for example, opposed legislation that would have advanced LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, appointed judges “who continually are taking away rights,” and targeted healthcare protections “at a governmental level for LGBTQ Americans.”

A campaign memo obtained exclusively by the Blade notes that “As president, Donald Trump and his administration treated the LGBTQ+ community with contempt,” such as by:

  • Opposing the legislation to guarantee nondiscrimination protections, while rolling back nondiscrimination employment protections for LGBTQ+ Americans,
  • Appointing anti-LGBTQ+ judges who want to rip protections away from LGBTQ+ Americans,
  • Erasing health care protections for LGBTQ+ Americans,
  • Banning transgender troops from serving, and
  • Attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would end protections for those with preexisting conditions.

In a second Trump term, the official said, those involved in drafting the Project 2025 document have detailed precisely how they would direct “government agencies to openly allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” imperiling “decades and decades of progress.”

The campaign memo states that, “Trump’s Project 2025 will be even worse for LGBTQ+ Americans, going beyond the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. A second Trump presidency will make it a mission to erode LGBTQ+ Americans’ rights, and undermine their existence.” For instance, the document notes, Trump would:

The campaign intends to show voters how the deluge of anti-LGBTQ laws that were introduced and passed at the local and state level over the past few years offer “a preview” of “what we would, unfortunately, see in a second Trump administration,” the official said.

He stressed that these laws go further than targeting the rights of LGBTQ Americans but in many cases seek “to really undermine their existence in public” — and do not constitute “one-off” issues in states like Florida, Alabama or Tennessee, but rather a blueprint for national policy that “Trump and Project 2025 would bring to Americans.”

The official added that these right-wing legislators are abetted by right-wing judges, including U.S. Supreme Court justices, who have stated their interest in challenging same-sex marriage and reviving sodomy laws that were declared unconstitutional more than 20 years ago.

The damage by Trump appointed jurists, he noted, has ranged from rulings challenging safe and effective abortion medication that has been approved for more than 20 years to overturning Covid protections for workers enforced by OSHA.

The campaign official also expressed plans to show how extreme Republican efforts to restrict medically-assisted family planning could carry devastating consequences for LGBTQ families in particular.

The Alabama Supreme Court’s extension of personhood rights to frozen embryos in a ruling last month, which portends the risk of lawsuits targeting clinics that offer in-vitro fertilization, has put elected Republicans on the defense for their support of restrictions on IVF.

“This is a real threat to how people choose to grow their families,” he said.

The false notion that Trump is progressive on ‘social issues’


Part of the work of the campaign, a second official said, will be to disabuse voters of the idea that Trump, perhaps because he is from New York, or because has been married multiple times and has previously proclaimed to be pro-choice, is progressive on “social issues.”

“You have to look at his record and the people that he surrounds him with and what they want to do,” he said. “And the bottom line here is that when it comes to a lot of these issues, he has created the conditions — legally, executively, and culturally — to attack and undermine LGBTQ Americans.”

As an example, he pointed to the Trump-appointed judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who are considering a case that could reverse a federal mandate for health insurers to cover lifesaving pre-exposure prophylaxis medications that prevent the transmission of HIV.

The first official added, “there is this false perception that Donald Trump is socially liberal, but his record and the people that he’s choosing to fill his administration, what he did as president, and what these allies and he are planning to do in a second Trump administration, go against that perception.”

For voters, he said, it can be “hard to digest all these things and some of this stuff is easier to explain than others, but that’s also why we’re making this effort in the first place” beginning with constituency papers and memos and then the campaign will “continue to hammer this message until November.”

Motivating ‘equality voters’


Since the Jan. 6 insurrection and the decision by the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority in 2022 that overturned the constitutional right to abortion first established with Roe v. Wade in 1973, the second official said, “there’s more opportunity for us to expand our electorate and reach voters that frankly are outraged by the assault on these basic fundamentals of the United States.”

“Equality voters are not just our community,” the first official said, but rather a “broad and diverse” group who constitute “a high propensity population, especially in some of these battleground [states].”

The campaign is confident that LGBTQ rights are “one of many issues that will motivate folks” to vote, he added.

In terms of the mediums through which the campaign will deliver the message, the second official noted that this involves “managing a highly personalized highly fragmented media environment in which we really have to fire on a lot more cylinders than in a traditional campaign even 10 years ago,” which was “kind of TV-heavy.”

As a result, he said, “you’re seeing a ton of different and diverse ways that we are reaching folks,” from TikTok to Truth Social, the right-wing social media platform founded by Trump, and “paid media that’s skewing heavily toward digital.”

Expect to hear from Biden


LGBTQ rights are “intimate and personal to the president,” the second campaign official said. So, on these matters “you’re going to hear from all of our principals, all of our campaign officials, especially at key moments that are high impact for LGBTQ Americans, including Pride Month.”

“This is a campaign that continues to really represent the diversity of our community, including in inner leadership,” he added.

In November, the Blade interviewed six senior LGBTQ Biden campaign officials for a series of stories about their work on the reelection effort.

Beyond highlighting the dangers presented by Trump, the campaign will continue to show LGBTQ people that Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the administration “will stand up for you and respect your dignity,” the first official said.

“That’s the contrast,” he said. “That’s the choice in this election. We’re going to highlight the history both the Vice President and the President have had supporting LGBTQ rights and implementing them as part of the Biden-Harris agenda and record.”

Biden-Harris 2024 Senior Spokesperson Kevin Munoz shared the following statement on Donald Trump’s plans to eliminate LGBTQ rights:

“The freedom-loving Republican party isn’t so free under Donald Trump’s reign. They’ve told us what we can and cannot read, who we can and cannot love, and are even telling us who we can or cannot be. Donald Trump’s Project 2025 would make it their mission to nationalize the draconian, anti-LGBTQ nightmare we’ve seen at the state level and go even further. 

In Joe Biden’s America, the government works for all the American people – not just the people Donald Trump approves of. President Biden is fighting for a more equal, just future, while Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies can’t seem to even acknowledge our existence. We’ll fight in this election like our lives depend on it – because they do.”

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Politics

GLAAD poll: LGBTQ adults motivated to vote strongly prefer Biden

GLAAD’s new survey also shows that the majority of all voters reject harmful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and candidates who spread it

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Graphic by Fredex via Bigstock

LOS ANGELES — A poll released Thursday by GLAAD found that 94 percent of LGBTQ Americans are motivated to vote, with those residing in seven swing states preferring President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump by a margin of 57 points.

The data, pulled from a nationwide survey of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ participants, also showed that running on anti-transgender issues is “a losing strategy,” with 53 percent of respondents who are likely to vote (and registered to do so) saying they would oppose “a political candidate [who] speaks frequently about restricting access to health care and participation in sports for transgender youth.”

The poll, which included “LGBTQ, registered, Trump voters and swing voters,” also found that respondents agreed with the statement that politicians “should stop focusing on restricting women’s rights and banning medical care for transgender youth and instead focus on addressing inflation, job creation, and healthcare costs.” 

GLAAD further notes that LGBTQ Americans constitute an important voting bloc, comprising seven to eight percent of the overall electorate in 2020 according to figures reported by the Washington Post.

Their turnout in that election “played a decisive role in President Joe Biden’s win in the close contest swing states,” the organization wrote — states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin where the poll found 68 percent of motivated LGBTQ voters favor Biden while only 15 percent favor Trump.

Among motivated LGBTQ voters in states where U.S. Senate races are most competitive — Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — 79 percent reported preferring a Democratic congressional candidate while just 12 percent preferred a Republican.

Preferences for Democratic candidates among LGBTQ Americans track with findings presented in a 2020 report by the Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA School of Law. Among LGBT adults who are registered and eligible to vote, the group found 50 percent are registered Democrats, 15 percent are Republicans, and 22 percent are independents.

In a press release, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said, “GLAAD’s research shows that LGBTQ Americans are ready to exert their significant power to shape electoral politics, choose responsible leadership, and use their voices to advocate for equality.

“Our new survey also shows that the majority of all voters reject harmful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and candidates who spread it. Voters are insisting that politicians focus instead on the real issues facing our nation, including inflation, abortion rights, and climate change.

“Candidates, parties, strategists and reporters are on notice about the power of the LGBTQ vote and the issues that should be demanding attention, including our fundamental freedoms and everyone’s safety and well-being.”

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California Politics

San Diego’s gay Mayor Todd Gloria headed for reelection

Gloria will face off in November against the second highest vote-getter, police officer Larry Turner, who had 24.3%

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Mayor Todd Gloria during the outreach initiative for storm-impacted residents in the February storms aftermath. (Photo Credit: City of San Diego)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego’s openly gay Mayor Todd Gloria led a field of five candidates for the office he currently occupies with a margin of 50.88% of the vote according to results published Wednesday by the County of San Diego’s elections office

In a statement released by Gloria’s campaign as the vote tallying continues, the mayor said: “When we launched this campaign a year ago, the goal was clear: to finish the vision. Tonight, San Diego has spoken loud and clear—they’re rooting for us to keep up the fight in the general election, to keep pushing for that vision.”

First elected to the office in November of 2020, then California Assemblymember became the City of San Diego’s first openly LGBTQ person and first person of color elected mayor. In January of 2023, Gloria became a recipient of the Latino Leaders Network’s Antonio Villaraigosa Leadership Award, during his acceptance speech the mayor noted his identity as an openly gay man with Puerto Rican, Filipino, Native American, and Dutch heritage who learned from his parents – who worked as a gardener and hotel maid – that one should “leave things better than you found them.”

Bay Area Reporter journalist Lisa Keen reported Gloria will face off in November against the second highest vote-getter, police officer Larry Turner, who had 24.3%, according to unofficial results. Although the city race is nonpartisan, Gloria is a Democrat and Turner is an independent. The big issue in the campaign has been what to do with the city’s large population living on the streets.

A supporter of Gloria’s reelection campaign filed a lawsuit challenging Turner’s residency requirement to run for office. The judge overseeing the case had put off a decision until after the primary.

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Politics

Haley suspends presidential campaign

Haley & former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were the two GOP candidates who, after dropping out of the contest, did not endorse Trump

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Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Following a disappointing showing in the Super Tuesday primary elections, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced the suspension of her presidential campaign on Wednesday morning, clearing the path for the Republican Party to nominate former President Donald Trump.

“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party who did not support him, and I hope he does,” she said to supporters in Charleston, S.C. “This is now his time for choosing.”

While her departure comes early in the presidential primary contest, for well over a year the former president has maintained a strong lead over his rivals in national polls.

Haley was one of just two GOP candidates who, after dropping out of the contest, did not endorse Trump. She and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie both sought to convince their party’s voters that Trump is unfit for a second term in the White House.

President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign released a statement following Haley’s announcement on Wednesday:

“It takes a lot of courage to run for president — that’s especially true in today’s Republican Party, where so few dare to speak the truth about Donald Trump. Nikki Haley was willing to speak the truth about Trump: About the chaos that always follows him, about his inability to see right from wrong, about his cowering before Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump made it clear he doesn’t want Nikki Haley’s supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign. I know there is a lot we won’t agree on. But on the fundamental issues of preserving American democracy, on standing up for the rule of law, on treating each other with decency and dignity and respect, on preserving NATO and standing up to America’s adversaries, I hope and believe we can find common ground.

We all know this is no ordinary election. And the stakes for America couldn’t be higher. I know that Democrats and Republicans and Independents disagree on many issues and hold strong convictions. That’s a good thing. That’s what America stands for. But I also know this: what unites Democrats and Republicans and Independents is a love for America.”  

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