10 Times Elizabeth Warren Was an LGBTQ Champion on the Campaign Trail
Senator Elizabeth Warren has suspended her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. While that's difficult news for her supporters, many of whom were in the LGBTQ community, they can take solace in her having run a strong race that saw her remaining in it after two dozen of her opponents dropped out.
Warren made speaking up for vulnerable communities a central part of her campaign, including the queer community. In fact, she centered LGBTQ issues so strongly that it at times motivated some of her fellow Democratic hopefuls to follow her lead. Here are 11 times she showed she was a true ally.
Added Pronouns to Her Twitter Bio
In July of last year, Warren added her pronouns ("she/her") to her Twitter bio. HRC spokesperson Lucas Acosta called the move “a best practice for all campaigns at every level.”
Said Their Names
During the LGBTQ forum in September, hosted by The Advocate, GLAAD, One Iowa, and The Gazette, Warren read the names of transgender people lost to violence in the United States so far that year.
"It is time for a president of the United States to say their names," she declared.
Released an Expansive LGBTQ Platform
Releasing an LGBTQ policy platform as a Democratic candidate may have become an all but must-do, but Warren went above and beyond, releasing a comprehensive, 12-page plan back in October.
Killed With Town Hall Quip About Gay Marriage
During CNN's LGBTQ town hall event, Warren was asked what she would say to a theoretical supporter if they said they were against marriage equality, feeling it should be between "one man and one woman."
"Well, I'm gonna assume it's a guy who said that," she replied. "And I'm gonna say, 'Then just marry one woman. I'm cool with that...Assuming you can find one.'"
Committed to Ending Trans Military Ban on Day One
Presidential candidates are often asked what they would tackle on day one in office as a way of checking their priorities. Warren made hers clear when she said she intended to end President Trump's transgender military ban.
"The only thing that should matter when it comes to allowing military personnel to serve is whether or not they can handle the job,” Warren said on her campaign website. “Our national security community is weaker when LGBTQ+ Americans are excluded.”
Gave Comfort to a Young LGBTQ Voter
One of the Massachusetts senator's greatest strengths was her ability to connect with voters out on the campaign trail. One such notable moment came when a young member of the LGBTQ community asked if she had ever experienced a time when someone she looked up to had a hard time accepting her.
Warren shared a touching story of her mother's reaction when she told her she was getting a divorce, and followed it up with a warm embrace of the young woman, who was visibly moved.
Pledged to Read Names of Trans Victims From Rose Garden
Not only did Warren read the names of trans victims of violence during the aforementioned LGBTQ forum event, she also pledged to read their names from the Rose Garden if elected.
Spoke Out Against Housing Imprisoned Trans Women With Men
Imprisoned transgender women are all too often housed with male prisoners, a situation that has only worsened under the Trump administration, which rolled back trans protections in the Transgender Offender Manual.
Warren called for putting an end to that practice, which inspired former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden to also agree that trans woman should be housed with women.
Called Out Bloomberg's Alleged Homophobic Comment
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg entered the debates late, and Warren quickly showed him why he might have been better off if the DNC had never changed the rules to allow him in.
"I'd like to talk about who we're running against: A billionaire who calls women 'fat broads' and 'horse-faced lesbians,'" Warren said at one point in the Las Vegas debate. "And no, I'm not talking about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg."
Mentioned the Trans Community in Campaign Suspension Announcement
Warren continued to show her support for the transgender community in her message to supporters announcing she was suspending her campaign.
"Because for every young person who is drowning in student debt, for every family struggling to pay the bills on two incomes, for every mom worried about paying for prescriptions or putting food on the table, this fight goes on," she wrote.
"For every immigrant and African American and Muslim and Jewish person and Latinx and transwoman who sees the rise in attacks on people who look or sound or worship like them, this fight goes on."