Why Would I Stop Others from Marrying the One They Love?

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently took a break from his campaign activities in pivotal swing states to speak at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner, the largest pro-LGBTQ+ rights organization in the nation. During his address, he reflected on his political journey beginning with his initial run for Congress in 2006. He recalled how, during that campaign in a Republican district, he was asked about his stance on civil unions for gay couples.

“I said, ‘sure, if that’s your thing,’” Walz shared with the crowd, emphasizing his deep love for his wife, Gwen. “Why would I stop anybody else from marrying the person they love? That makes no sense.” His comments resonate as a reminder of a time when many Democrats distanced themselves from the topic of same-sex marriage.

In 2004, George W. Bush’s re-election campaign had leveraged a constitutional amendment to define marriage strictly as between a man and a woman. Despite this climate, Walz triumphed in his election, garnering praise for advocating for abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He clarified, “I won because I was for those positions.”

Now serving as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Walz often reflects on his earlier experiences as a faculty adviser to a gay-straight alliance and as an assistant football coach at Mankato West High School. These encounters influence his political actions, underscoring a shift in the Democratic Party towards an unwavering support for LGBTQ+ rights.

The landscape of LGBTQ+ rights has significantly evolved since 1996 when then-President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act in a bid for re-election, a legislation that Joe Biden supported during his senatorial tenure. In 2008, although Barack Obama and Biden opposed same-sex marriage, they took a stand against Proposition 8, an initiative in California that sought to ban such unions.

In a stark contrast, Kamala Harris, during her tenure as California’s attorney general, actively opposed defending Proposition 8 in court and took part in some of the earliest same-sex marriages after its repeal by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. Prior to Walz’s speech at the dinner, a video showcased her urging a Los Angeles County clerk to perform marriage ceremonies immediately, declaring, “Have a good day and enjoy it. It’s going to be fun.”

Throughout his remarks, Walz highlighted his legislative record as a congressman from a moderately competitive district, proudly mentioning his votes to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and supporting hate crime prevention laws. He reflected on the harrowing memory of walking with the mother of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man murdered in Wyoming in 1998, emphasizing the deep pain and loss tied to that tragedy.

Walz also recounted his efforts as governor to ban conversion therapy and back a “trans refuge bill,” which protects individuals seeking gender-affirming care from countries threatening legal action against them. He pointed out Minnesota’s resistance against movements aiming to restrict access to LGBTQ+ literature, humorously noting the absurdity of objections to children learning about queer penguins.

“It’s a fact of life. Some people are gay,” Walz stated, diverting from the ridiculous rhetoric of opponents. “But you know what’s not a fact of life? That our children need to be shot dead in schools.”

Moreover, he firmly differentiated his approach to LGBTQ+ rights from those espoused by Donald Trump and his GOP running mate, Senator JD Vance. Walz highlighted how the previous administration implemented a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, a policy reversed by the Biden-Harris administration. “If you want to serve this nation, you should be allowed to,” he insisted.

In a sharp critique of Vance, Walz commented on the senator’s disparaging remarks about teachers and child-rearing. “Quit talking about women’s child-bearing issues,” he advised, asserting that the public does not seek his opinions on the matter.

Walz ended his speech by poking fun at Trump, referencing the former president’s insistence that he is “not weird.” He quipped, “If you’re reminding someone you’re not weird, you probably are.”