Hillary Clinton on LGBTQ Rights
TL;DR
Hillary Clinton strongly supports comprehensive federal non-discrimination protections and advocates for global LGBTQ+ human rights as indivisible from universal rights.
Key Points
In a December 2011 speech at the UN, she declared that "gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights."
During her 2016 campaign, she endorsed the Equality Act, which aimed to provide comprehensive federal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people.
She noted that in March 2013, she stated support for marriage for lesbian and gay couples both personally and as a matter of policy and law.
Summary
Hillary Clinton has consistently expressed strong support for LGBTQ+ rights, evolving from past cautious stances to becoming a vocal champion for equality, particularly during her 2016 presidential campaign. She asserted that "gay rights and human rights... are one and the same" and opposed discrimination in areas like employment, housing, and public accommodations. Her policy proposals included measures to protect transgender individuals from violence, streamline identity documents, and improve law enforcement training regarding interactions with the LGBT community.
Contextually, her views reflected a significant shift from her earlier position where she supported leaving marriage jurisdiction to the states in 2007, and she opposed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2003. As Secretary of State, she forcefully presented the argument globally that the human rights of LGBT individuals must be protected universally, referencing instances where rights were secured by legal changes preceding societal acceptance. She also highlighted the US government's strategy to combat abuses against LGBT persons abroad and announced new funding to support civil society organizations working on these issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillary Clinton is a strong advocate for LGBTQ rights, championing comprehensive federal non-discrimination protections such as the Equality Act. She views the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people as inseparable from universal human rights globally. She has committed to protecting these rights through executive action and policy.
Yes, Hillary Clinton's public stance has evolved, particularly regarding same-sex marriage. While in 2003 she opposed a constitutional amendment banning it but left the issue to the states, by 2013 she explicitly stated her support for marriage for same-sex couples as a matter of policy and law. Her later positions have been strongly affirmative of LGBT equality.
Hillary Clinton has affirmed commitment to protecting transgender rights, including applauding actions to allow transgender students to use appropriate school bathrooms. Her presidential platform included working to protect transgender individuals from violence and streamlining identity documents to reflect their gender identity. She views ending discrimination against the transgender community as a necessary step for full societal participation.
Sources4
NCLR Statement on Hillary Clinton's Landmark LGBTQ Policy Brief
Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016/LGBTQ rights - Ballotpedia
Hillary Clinton LGBTQ Rights Speech Transcript UN 2011
How could President Trump or Clinton influence national LGBTQ rights? | PBS NewsHour
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.