GLAAD STATEMENT ON THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND CANDIDATES’ LGBTQ RECORDS

GLAAD: “Media must do their job to ask questions of candidates about their records and plans for and against LGBTQ people. Our community is enduring an onslaught of attacks on our lives and fundamental freedoms. Everything from our marriages to our ability to have children to keeping schools safe for LGBTQ youth is on the ballot. The candidates’ records are very clear, and voters need to be informed about this history to make the best decisions. Reporters and moderators must challenge candidate rhetoric for facts about abortion, immigration, inflation, and the security of each person’s vote. CNN failed to find time in 90 minutes to ask about Project 2025, the fascist fever dream that is laying a path for anti-LGBTQ zealots to weaponize the government to fully eliminate abortion access and LGBTQ people from equal access in American life. Accurate information is essential for voters to choose a leader who values the truth, decency, and who will work to ensure freedom and equality for all Americans.”

(Friday, June 28, 2024 – New York, NY) – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is urging media to include LGBTQ issues and candidate records as the presidential campaign enters a critical phase toward the party conventions.

The first debate between presidential candidates did not include a single question about LGBTQ people or the attacks on our fundamental freedoms including private health care decisions, threats to marriage equality, 500+ baseless state bills targeting LGBTQ people nationwide, or the more than 1,000 anti-LGBTQ incidents of murder, harassment and vandalism nationwide.

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:
“Media must do their job to ask questions of candidates about their records and plans for and against LGBTQ people. Our community is enduring an onslaught of attacks on our lives and fundamental freedoms. Everything from our marriages to our ability to have children to keeping schools safe for LGBTQ youth is on the ballot. The candidates’ records are very clear, and voters need to be informed about this history to make the best decisions. Reporters and moderators must challenge candidate rhetoric for facts about abortion, immigration, inflation, and the security of each person’s vote. CNN failed to find time in 90 minutes to ask about Project 2025, the fascist fever dream that is laying a path for anti-LGBTQ zealots to weaponize the government to fully eliminate abortion access and LGBTQ people from equal access in American life. Accurate information is essential for voters to choose a leader who values the truth, decency, and who will work to ensure freedom and equality for all Americans.”

Additional background:

• 7% of Americans are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, including 20% of GenZ, the youngest population cohort studied and most out generation in history.
• LGBTQ voters are poised to be the deciding difference in the 2024 election as they were in 2020.
• GLAAD’s poll of LGBTQ registered voters shows they are highly motivated to vote. 94% indicate they are definitely (83%) or probably (11%) voting this November.
• Donald Trump has amassed more than 210 attacks against LGBTQ Americans before, during and after his one-term, twice-impeached presidency, as documented in the GLAAD Trump Accountability Tracker.
• Joe Biden has made more than 350 moves to include, protect and support LGBTQ Americans including the most number of out federal judicial nominees, protective policies, signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law to secure the marriages of LGBTQ couples and all couples of different races, and statements of support year-round for LGBTQ people and equality. The Biden record is documented in the GLAAD Biden Accountability Tracker.