Walz Highlights His Commitment to LGBTQ+ Rights During Tough Times

On Saturday evening, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a significant appearance at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner in Washington, D.C. He took a moment away from his campaign activities in swing states to reflect on his early political journey, specifically recalling his first congressional run in 2006 in a Republican district.

During his speech, Walz recounted a pivotal moment when he was asked whether he supported civil unions for same-sex couples. “I said, ‘sure, if that’s your thing,’” he explained to the audience. However, he emphasized, “My marriage, my wife, Gwen is the most important thing in my life. I love her deeply. Why would I stop anybody else from marrying the person they love? That makes no sense.”

This moment was particularly striking considering the political climate of that time. Many Democrats were hesitant to support same-sex marriage, and former President George W. Bush had just won re-election on a platform advocating a constitutional amendment to define marriage strictly between a man and a woman. Two years after Walz’s successful campaign, he earned praise for his positions on abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

“And I said, ‘No, no, no, you got this wrong,’” Walz remarked. “I won because I was for those positions.” His narrative underscores how attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights have evolved significantly within the Democratic Party since then.

Walz, who is currently serving as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, shared insights from his experience as a faculty adviser to a gay-straight alliance while he worked as a social studies teacher and assistant football coach at Mankato West High School. He reflected on how these experiences informed his legislative decisions during his time in the House of Representatives.

His rise to prominence alongside Harris represents a shift in the Democratic Party, highlighting a nominee pair that openly supports gay rights. This contrasts sharply with earlier eras; in 1996, when then-President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act in a bid for re-election, the landscape for LGBTQ+ rights was much less progressive. It was a time when prominent Democrats like Joe Biden also supported legislation that ultimately limited same-sex marriage.

However, Walz noted the contrast with Kamala Harris, who, during her tenure as California’s Attorney General, made headlines by refusing to defend Proposition 8, California’s amendment banning same-sex marriage. A video played prior to his speech showcased Harris passionately advocating for the immediate performance of same-sex marriages.

Throughout his address, Walz highlighted his voting record as a congressman, where he consistently advocated for gay rights in a politically mixed district. He proudly cited his vote to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a policy that barred openly gay individuals from serving in the military, and reminisced about supporting hate crime legislation alongside the mother of Matthew Shepard, a young man brutally murdered due to his sexual orientation in 1998.

“I remember walking with a mother who lost her son, and hearing the sheriff tell me the only place that wasn’t bloody was where the tears ran down Matthew’s eyes,” Walz shared, capturing the emotional weight of that moment.

As governor, he has enacted policies aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ individuals, including legislation banning conversion therapy and supporting a “trans refuge bill,” which allows access to gender-affirming care without fear of legal ramifications from states with restrictive laws. He further criticized attempts to ban books containing LGBTQ+ content, commenting humorously on the absurdity of such restrictions.

“Some people are gay, but you know what’s not a fact of life? That our children need to be shot dead in schools,” he said, receiving hearty laughter from the crowd.

Walz took the opportunity to draw sharp contrasts between his policy positions and those of former President Trump and his Republican opponent, Senator JD Vance. He condemned the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service members, rejoicing in the fact that such policies were rescinded under President Biden and Harris.

In a pointed critique of Vance, Walz addressed comments from his opponent regarding teachers and parenting, urging him to avoid personal comments about family issues. “No one cares what your thoughts are on if my family counts or doesn’t. No one cares,” he stated emphatically.

Walz concluded with some light-hearted jabs at Trump, noting the former president’s repeated insistence during a recent town hall that he was not “weird.” “If you’re reminding someone you’re not weird, you probably are,” he quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the assembly.