In a bit of confusing acronyming, Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke this morning at a special event for the Human Rights Campaign.
HRC spoke to HRC activists and leaders this morning after a scheduling conflict made it impossible to accept the invitation to headline their 19th annual dinner this evening (Vice President Joe Biden, widely credited with pushing President Obama forward on his evolution on marriage rights, was offered the keynote speaking slot in her stead).
As previously announced, Hillary Clinton will speak to the organization at a separate event on the morning of the National Dinner. Approximately 800 grassroots leaders from across the country – including the HRC Board of Directors, HRC Board of Governors, HRC staff, and volunteer leaders and supporters from the organization’s over 1.5 million members and supporters in all 50 states – will hear from Secretary Clinton.
http://www.hrc.org/...
Clinton pledged sweeping action and support in favor of LGBTQ issues, talked a bit about her own past positions, and called out the Republicans who stand in the way of equality.
Clinton declared that LGBTQ rights will be a major focus for her campaign and Administration.
Clinton vowed to upgrade the service records of former LGBT servicemembers who were dishonorably discharged under "don't ask, don't tell," increase the legal protection of transgender Americans and endorsed the Federal Equality Act, a law that would update the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect LGBT Americans.
http://www.cnn.com/...
Clinton promises to pass federal legislation ending discrimination, lower costs for HIV treatment, cut off funding for child welfare agencies that discriminate against gay parents and open up military service to transgender people.
http://news.yahoo.com/...
She also acknowledged her own imperfect record on these issues, and credited HRC as helping her evolution on the issue over the years. In 2008, both she and then Senator Obama opposed marriage equality in their campaigns, as did a majority of Americans.
"You helped change a lot of minds, including mine, and I am personally grateful for that."
Clinton spoke of the great work LGBTQ activists have done over the last seven years during which we not only saw the President of the United States and many public officials change their stance to favor equality, but a huge shift in public opinion in favor of equality.
I have been fighting alongside you and others for equal rights and I am just getting warmed up
Clinton talked about the Republicans and their uniformly awful views on issues affecting LGBTQ Americans, as well.
She mocked Ben Carson, invited Ted Cruz to a gay pride parade ("He clearly has no idea what he's missing!") and said Kim Davis was someone breaking the law to deny people their rights.