PHILADELPHIA — On the eve of National Coming Out Day, Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz rallied supporters in Philadelphia, emphasizing the crucial role LGBTQ+ voters can play in the upcoming presidential election.
Addressing the audience at the Independence Visitors Center, Walz highlighted the underdog status of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s candidacy, urging that equality voters can help make the difference.
This event marked her first solo campaign trip to Pennsylvania since her husband joined Harris on the Democratic ticket.
It was part of the Human Rights Campaign HRC and the Out For Harris-Walz coalition’s 10 Days of Action, aimed at mobilizing voters in battleground states prioritizing LGBTQ+ rights.
HRC President Kelley Robinson declared Pennsylvania as pivotal in saving our nation and our democracy, referencing polling indicating 75 million equality voters nationwide, with about 1 million in Pennsylvania alone.
Speakers praised Harris and Walz for their extensive records in defending LGBTQ+ rights, with Robinson highlighting Harris’ history of officiating the first same-sex weddings in California and her efforts to support the Equality Act.
Walz also reiterated her husband’s commitment to LGBTQ+ issues, recalling his past as a high school teacher who sponsored the first Gay-Straight Alliance and his legislative work, including banning conversion therapy as governor.
She asserted that a Harris-Walz administration would prioritize signing the Equality Act into law.
Attendees criticized the Republican Party’s approach, with state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta pointing out the tactics of fear and division used by some candidates. Walz, using a playful teacher’s tone, called on Trump and U.S. Senator JD Vance to mind your own business, drawing applause from the crowd.
While Trump’s campaign has included elements of transphobia, Robinson expressed optimism about LGBTQ+ voter mobilization, noting previous election cycles where similar tactics failed.
A recent HRC poll indicated that Harris leads Trump by 67% among LGBTQ+ voters, with 73% of LGBTQ+ adults motivated to vote.
Walz concluded by challenging attendees to elevate their voting motivation from a C- to an A during the upcoming days of action.