FACT SHEET FOR REPORTERS COVERING AND ATTENDING DONALD TRUMP’S APPEARANCE AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS

GLAAD: “Donald Trump’s disastrous record of policy and rhetoric against Black LGBTQ Americans must be centered today at the National Association of Black Journalists, and in all campaign conversations. Black queer and transgender people have faced ongoing and relentless disproportionate harm from Trump and his associates, including nearly 350 attacks and decades of racist behavior and speech as documented by GLAAD. Journalists must do their jobs and hold Trump accountable to his record of attacking the free press, and demand answers about his longtime associations to the anti-LGBTQ Heritage Foundation and its fascist takeover dreams of Project 2025. The safety and freedom of Black LGBTQ Americans and all Americans from marginalized communities should remain a top priority for voters and reporters.”

(New York, NY – July 31, 2024) – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is releasing a fact sheet for reporters covering and attending Donald Trump’s appearance today at the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago.

GLAAD has documented nearly 220 attacks in policy and rhetoric against LGBTQ Americans in the Trump Accountability Project.

GLAAD has documented Trump’s record of racist behavior and speech here.

GLAAD has documented Trump’s notable and overt associations with extremist white supremacist groups, here.

GLAAD’s poll of LGBTQ voters shows racial justice to be a top issue for LGBTQ Americans.

Trump’s appearance today is a rare occasion where Trump can be asked questions from non-extremist media, including about his association to Project 2025 and The Heritage Foundation, one of the most virulent anti-LGBTQ activist groups in the country. Trump’s campaign issued a statement yesterday again attempting to distance itself from Project 2025. Media can note Trump’s many associations with Project 2025 leadership and its stated goals to eliminate recognition and support for LGBTQ Americans, including:

• firing federal employees that oppose or insufficiently support extremist policies
• ending access to abortion and contraception
• eliminating protections for LGBTQ people, erasing LGBTQ-inclusive language throughout federal agencies such as “the terms sexual orientation and gender identity (“SOGI”), diversity, equity, and inclusion, gender, gender equality, gender equity, gender awareness, gender-sensitive, abortion, reproductive health, reproductive rights.”

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis:
“Donald Trump’s disastrous record of policy and rhetoric against Black LGBTQ Americans must be centered today at the National Association of Black Journalists, and in all campaign conversations. Black queer and transgender people have faced ongoing and relentless disproportionate harm from Trump and his associates, including nearly 350 attacks and decades of racist behavior and speech as documented by GLAAD. Journalists must do their jobs and hold Trump accountable to his record of attacking the free press, and demand answers about his longtime associations to the anti-LGBTQ Heritage Foundation and its fascist takeover dreams of Project 2025. The safety and freedom of Black LGBTQ Americans and all Americans from marginalized communities should remain a top priority for voters and reporters.”

Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, also has close ties to the anti-LGBTQ, anti-equality Heritage Foundation, including writing the foreword to the upcoming book by Heritage’s president.

GLAAD has documented Vance’s record on LGBTQ issues, including: 

—Introduced the so-called “Protect Children’s Innocence Act,” a piece of legislation riddled with lies about transgender healthcare.

—Stated he would vote “no” on the Respect for Marriage Act to codify marriage equality.

—Tweeted false and vile rhetoric about people opposed to legislation that censors classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

—Repeated false rhetoric to inaccurately claim that bills censoring classroom conversation about LGBTQ people are about ‘parents’ rights.

—Defended Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s appearance at a white supremacist conference with host Nick Fuentes, who has spread racist, anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theories, claiming “she did nothing wrong.”

—On his campaign website, claims without evidence that American political leaders are “using America’s military as a social justice side project. Our troops don’t need to focus on diversity or equity or any other progressive buzzword.”

—Claimed a week before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that President Biden is risking war with Russia because President Putin doesn’t believe in transgender rights.

Additional research:

GLAAD’S guide to the 2024 elections includes a broad breakdown of the parties’ on-the-record stances on issues affecting LGBTQ people and allies.