In a significant political development, Kamala Harris, currently serving as Vice President of the United States, has been officially endorsed for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. This endorsement comes after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race earlier today, throwing his support behind Harris as the Democratic National Convention approaches. If nominated, Harris will face Donald Trump in the November 2024 general election.
Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Kamala Devi Harris grew up in a multicultural household. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a Tamil Indian biologist, and her father, Donald J. Harris, is a Jamaican American economist. Harris spent her formative years in Berkeley, California, before attending Howard University for her undergraduate studies. She later earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1989.
Harris began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on prosecuting child sexual assault cases. Her dedication to justice and reform was evident early on, setting the stage for her future accomplishments. In 2003, she was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco, where she created a program to offer first-time drug offenders the chance to earn a high school diploma and find employment. Her innovative approach to criminal justice reform continued when she was elected as California’s Attorney General in 2010, making history as the first woman, African American, and South Asian to hold the position.
During her tenure as Attorney General, Harris championed marriage equality, defended the Affordable Care Act, and implemented policies to address the foreclosure crisis. Her dedication to civil rights and justice did not wane when she was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016. There, she served on several influential committees and focused on healthcare reform, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform.
Harris’s Stance on LGBTQ+ Issues
Vice President Harris has a record of supporting LGBTQ+ rights, although her career has not been without controversy. She has generally advocated for policies that protect and promote LGBTQ+ rights, aligning with the broader goals of the Biden administration to advance civil rights and foster a more inclusive society.
Same-Sex Marriage
Harris has long been an advocate for same-sex marriage, publicly supporting marriage equality as far back as 2004 when she officiated gay weddings. Her commitment was further demonstrated in 2008, and she continued to back marriage equality through her work with President Biden on enacting the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022, which requires state and federal governments to recognize same-sex marriages.
Trans Children in Sports
While Harris has not extensively spoken publicly about transgender youth in sports, her support for trans rights is clear. During the 2022 Transgender Day of Visibility, she was cited alongside President Biden as supporting the plaintiffs in B.P.J. v. West Virginia State Board of Education, a lawsuit concerning trans kids’ rights to play on sports teams matching their gender identity. The Biden-Harris administration proposed Title IX rules that prohibit schools from banning trans athletes, although these rules faced opposition in several states.
Transgender Access to Public Bathrooms
Since at least 2016, Harris has supported the rights of transgender people to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. As California’s Attorney General, she filed amicus briefs supporting this right and vocally opposed former President Donald Trump’s policies restricting transgender bathroom access.
“Don’t Say Gay” and LGBTQ+ Discussions in Schools
Harris has been a vocal opponent of “Don’t Say Gay” laws. At an event in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2023, she criticized these laws for instilling fear in teachers and students. She has consistently used her platform to oppose such discriminatory policies and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusivity in education.
Discrimination Protections
Throughout her career, Harris has opposed discriminatory practices against LGBTQ+ individuals. During the 2020 presidential campaign, she committed to pursuing the Equality Act, a bill aimed at prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Although the bill has not yet become law, her commitment to anti-discrimination measures remains strong. She has worked with President Biden to establish protections under Title IX and Title VII to combat sex-based discrimination.
Other LGBTQ+ Issues
From her early days as District Attorney of San Francisco to her current role as Vice President, Harris has consistently demonstrated her commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. She has established hate crimes units, organized conferences to combat anti-LGBTQ+ violence, and co-sponsored bills to prohibit abusive practices like conversion therapy.
Controversies and Criticisms
Despite her strong advocacy, Harris’s record is not without its controversies. In 2015, she faced criticism for denying a transgender woman in prison gender-affirming care. While she has since walked back on this decision and worked to change policies regarding trans inmates’ surgeries, it garnered significant criticism from LGBTQ+ voters and allies.
Furthermore, her history regarding sex work and policing has also been scrutinized. As Attorney General, Harris fought to close down platforms used by sex workers to vet clients, and she supported anti-sex-trafficking bills criticized for making sex work less safe. However, she now supports the decriminalization of sex work, acknowledging that her previous stance aimed to criminalize pimps and clients rather than the workers themselves.
Endorsement and Future Vision
With her recent endorsement for the 2024 presidential nomination, Kamala Harris’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights is a pivotal aspect of her platform. Her advocacy for equality, justice, and civil rights, combined with her willingness to address and learn from past controversies, positions her as a candidate dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable America.
As Harris herself stated during a Pride event, “The thing about Pride that I think is so important is that it reminds us of the beauty of community. It reminds us that we are all in this together.” This sentiment encapsulates her approach to LGBTQ+ rights and her vision for a nation where everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, can live freely and authentically.
The transgender community, along with their families and allies, will be closely watching Harris’s campaign as she strives to become the next President of the United States. Her history of advocacy and her dedication to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights will undoubtedly play a significant role in her journey towards the 2024 election.
