Gwen Walz kicks off LGBTQ+ voter mobilization initiative in Philadelphia

Gwen Walz, spouse of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for VP, speaks at an Out for Harris Walz campaign event in Philadelphia Oct. 10, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

PHILADELPHIA— On the eve of National Coming Out Day, Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz emphasized the impact that voters motivated by LGBTQ+ issues can have on the upcoming presidential election.

“Kamala and Tim are underdogs in this race, and how is it possible?” Walz said to a room of supporters at Independence Visitors Center in Old City. “But you know what? Equality voters can help make the difference.”

Walz’s appearance in Philadelphia was her first solo campaign trip to Pennsylvania since her husband, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, joined Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s candidate for vice president.

The event on Thursday evening was the kickoff of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Out For Harris-Walz coalition’s “10 Days of Action,” which aims to mobilize voters in battleground states who view LGBTQ+ rights as a priority for them.

HRC President Kelley Robinson said Pennsylvania is “going to save our nation and our democracy.”

The HRC describes equality voters as “a subset of voters – LGBTQ+ voters and allies – who prioritize LGBTQ+ inclusive policies when making decisions at the ballot box.”

Citing polling from the HRC , Robinson said there are 75 million of these voters nationwide, with 1 million of them in Pennsylvania, alone.

Speakers on Thursday evening lauded Harris and Walz as having decades long records defending the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Robinson referenced Harris’ first campaign being run by the “mastermind” behind Harvey Milk’s political operation, and to her prosecution of hate crimes, officiating the first same sex weddings in California , supporting the Equality Act, and helping to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.

“That’s who she is,” Robinson said.

Gwen Walz recalled her husband’s lengthy record on LGBTQ+ matters, which dates back to when he was a high school teacher in the 1990s when he sponsored the school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance . As a member of Congress, Walz fought to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and worked to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. As governor, Walz signed legislation banning conversion therapy and ensuring transition care .

Walz lauded Harris on Thursday for being the vice president in the “most pro LGBTQ+ administration in history,” and assured if the Harris-Walz ticket wins the White House, they will sign the Equality Act , which aims to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, into law.

Speakers at the event said the Republican Party, led by former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), would not have their best interests in mind.

“You know, in this moment, you have so many people who are running for office whose entire strategy, their entire strategy is about convincing you that you got to hate somebody,” said state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and candidate for auditor general.

“They’re telling you that if it wasn’t for people in a certain region of the country, they had less, then you would have everything you need. You’ve heard that lie before,” he added. “You’ve heard the lie that if we just hate folks who are trans, we just hate folks who are brown, we just hate folks who grew up in certain communities, if we just hated them enough, then your neighborhood would be safer, your neighborhood will be better. We’ve all heard that lie.”

At one point, Walz put on her teacher glasses and used her “teacher voice” to send a message to the Republican Party’s presidential ticket.

“I’m not sure they’ll listen, but we’re saying it anyway,” Walz said. “Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance, please mind your own business,” which drew applause from the room.

Reports during the summer indicated that with Trump’s encouragement, the Republican National Committee updated its platform that it no longer defines marriage as between “one man and one woman,” according to CNN .

During a rally on Wednesday in Pennsylvania , Trump showed a campaign video to an audience in Reading that included a clip of former Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Admiral Rachel Levine , who is now Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Levine is transgender. The video of her garnered boos from the audience.

“I think the saddest thing that I see happening right now, especially with Republicans out there, they are so desperate that they’re spending the last days of this campaign sowing fear, hate and transphobia across our communities,” Robinson said.

However, Robinson expressed optimism, saying that this “strategy of sowing transphobia” has been tried the past few cycles, but was unsuccessful during Andy Beshear’s successful campaign for governor of Kentucky, and other races in Virginia.

While Gwen Walz held the event in Philadelphia, Tim Walz was participating in an “Out for Harris-Walz” national organizing call.

A poll from the HRC showed Harris leading Trump by 67% among LGBTQ voters.

Once again leaning in on her background as a teacher, Walz said that an HRC poll showed that 73% of LGBTQ+ adults were very motivated to vote.

“You know what 73 sounds like to a teacher like me,” Walz asked the room. “It’s a C- people.”

“Philly, over the next ten days of action, I want us to work because I think we can get to an A,” she added.

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