
Profiles of Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis photographed by Gage Skidmore
The 2024 presidential race is shaping up to be a pivotal one for LGBTQ+ rights. With a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, hostile rhetoric and targeted attacks, presidential candidates' support is more important than ever. Throughout the race to the White House, we will be tracking different Republican candidates' stances.
Stay updated here! Click on a candidates name to learn more.
Francis Suarez - DROPPED CAMPAIGN
Larry Elder - DROPPED CAMPAIGN
Will Hurd - DROPPED CAMPAIGN
Ryan Binkley
Perry Johnson - DROPPED CAMPAIGN
Donald Trump
Donald Trump served as the 45th president of the U.S. and lost his re-election bid to President Joe Biden in 2020. Trump has been hostile to the LGBTQ+ community for years and frequently used his presidency to harm our community. Some of his most notable attacks against LGBTQ+ rights include:
You can find Trump’s full list of anti-LGBTQ+ hate here.
Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis is the current governor of Florida and has made LGBTQ+ people political pawns in his own quest for power. He spearheaded the state’s “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” bill that prevents youth from having safe, inclusive classrooms and bars them from receiving comprehensive education. DeSantis has also pushed forward legislation banning gender-affirming care, censoring the art of drag and harming LGBTQ+ families.
Tim Scott
Tim Scott currently serves as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina after being appointed by then-governor Nikki Haley in 2013. Scott has supported a number of anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including opposing same-sex marriage, and supporting “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” laws. Scott also introduced federal legislation that would defund schools that protect transgender children.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy is a business owner who rose to prominence amongst conservatives via his “anti-woke” agenda. He’s rejected the existence of transgender people and proactively spread dangerous, false narratives about the LGBTQ+ community.
Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley served as a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and previously held office as the governor of South Carolina. Haley has been loud in her opposition to LGBTQ+ issues, opposing initiatives such as allowing transgender kids to participate in sports to supporting a more extreme version of DeSantis’ “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” bill.
Mike Pence - DROPPED CAMPAIGN
Mike Pence served as Vice President of the United States under Trump after previously serving as the governor of Indiana. A longtime opponent of LGBTQ+ rights, Pence has advocated for a number of repressive policies, including granting businesses a license to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, banning marriage equality nationwide, and supporting conversion therapy.
Doug Burgum
Doug Burgum currently serves as the governor of North Dakota. During his governorship, Burgum has enacted numerous anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including legislation that erases LGBTQ+ people from multiple areas of state law, limits access to gender-affirming care and bans drag performances.
Chris Christie
Chris Christie served as the former governor of New Jersey before running for and failing to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. After dropping out of the race, Christie endorsed Trump and was later appointed as the head of Trump’s transition planning team. Christie has a political history of opposing same-sex marriage and denying transgender rights.
Asa Hutchinson
Asa Hutchinson previously served as the governor of Arkansas and before that held senior roles in the George W. Bush administration and in Congress. During his stint as governor, he signed several anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law, including a medical refusal bill that allows medical practitioners to refuse services to transgender patients.
The 2023 election is our chance to maintain a pro-equality majority in Congress, elect more candidates who will advocate for LGBTQ+ rights at the federal and state levels, and solidify the progress we’ve made.
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