Issue Position: Fight for LGBTQIA+ Rights
Issue Position
The LGBTQIA+ community's struggle did not end with the legalization of same sex marriage. People in the queer community are disproportionately affected by the same issues we all experience--lack of access to housing, education, and healthcare; violence; workplace discrimination; among many others. I will fight in Congress to uplift the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community, and especially when that intersects with other marginalized identities.
29% of transgender people said a healthcare professional refused to see them because of their actual or perceived gender identity
Approximately 20-40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT
LGBTQIA+ youth are five times as likely to attempt suicide than cis- and/or straight youth
Over one-fifth of LGBTQIA+ workers still report workplace discrimination and more than half of states do not have any protections for sexual/gender identity
In 2017, there were 28 deaths of transgender people in the United States due to fatal violence, the most ever recorded
Fatal violence disproportionately impacts transgender women of color, and the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia deprive them of employment, housing, healthcare, and other necessities
2018 has already seen at least 16 deaths of transgender people due to fatal violence
Due to bigotry and transphobia, Black transgender people face education to employment and housing discrimination, policy brutality, and health care disparities
Nearly half of all Black transgender people are harassed at work and at school
Vision and Policy Priorities
PROTECT LGBTQIA+ YOUTH
All young people deserve to be safe regardless of if they are at school, in public, or at home. I will fight to end the epidemic of bullying and violence against queer youth. Young LGBTQIA+ are disproportionately affected by mental illness, homelessness, and drug abuse and addiction. We must treat these issues as a public health crisis.
Pass national anti-bullying legislation
Ban conversion therapy
Provide funding for mental health services geared towards LGBTQIA+ youth
Ensure affordable housing and end youth homelessness
END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
We must end all forms of discrimination against the queer community. LGBTQIA+ individuals still report experiencing discrimination at work, at the doctor's office, when trying to rent an apartment, or receive a loan to buy a home.
Fight against any efforts to undermine LGBTQIA+ rights in the name of religious liberty
Strengthen national protections against discrimination for both gender identity and sexual orientation
Ensure that care specific to the LGBTQIA+ community, such as gender-confirmation surgery, is covered by health insurance plans
Enact protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals who are incarcerated, and ensure transgender people who are incarcerated are placed with their gender identity
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