Remarks Will Center LGBTQ+ Stories From Arizona, California, and Texas
WASHINGTON, DC – On a night dubbed Fighting For Our Freedoms, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson will address millions of Americans from the Democratic National Convention stage. At 5:45p CT, Robinson will share her own family’s journey from enslavement to freedom, a stirring reminder of the progress made in the fight for justice and equality, amplify LGBTQ+ stories from around the country, and underscore the stark contrast between the threat posed by Donald Trump to our fundamental freedoms and the hope and inspiration of the Harris-Walz ticket.
“This convention is putting on display the future we deserve: one where we all have the freedom to love who we love, be who we are, and get the chance to shine,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. “The 20+ million LGBTQ+ people in this country are living proof of the progress we’ve already made – and there’s no way we are letting Donald Trump, JD Vance, and their Project 2025 agenda drag us back in time. Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have shown up for us their entire careers. It’s an honor to show up for them. And know this: when we show up, we win.”
Robinson’s remarks will feature three LGBTQ+ stories, putting a spotlight on the growing power of the community, rich beauty of the community’s stories, and the dedication of Vice President Harris to defending and advancing our freedom to love and to be. Those stories include:
- Daniel Trujillo, a transgender young person whose advocacy in Tucson has helped to defeat anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and propel pro-equality candidates to victory. Daniel and his family have been tireless champions for equality in Arizona, lobbying the state legislature frequently and appearing in local and national media. They participated in the Out For Kamala Harris Zoom call that garnered 25,000+ attendees and raised over $300,000 for Vice President Harris’ White House bid in the days following her announcement. Daniel is attending his first prom next year.
- Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, the history-making couple who successfully challenged Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage. One hour after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay on an injunction that ordered state officials to stop enforcing the ban, then Attorney General Kamala Harris officiated the couple’s marriage – the first in the state since 2008. Perry and Stier’s story powerfully underscores how dedicated Vice President Harris has been to the fight for equality throughout her career.
- Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, the first American soldier injured in the Iraq war and who played an instrumental role in the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” A gay man, disabled veteran, and U.S. citizen of Hispanic and Native American heritage, Eric lives in San Antonio and is an author, public speaker and advocate who proudly champions what a Vice President and Governor Harris Walz administration would mean to LGBTQ+ service members.
Other LGBTQ+ speakers tonight include Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who will highlight the threat of Project 2025 to our freedoms and US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who will make clear the contrast between the Trump-Vance ticket and the Harris-Walz roadmap to freedom and equality for all.
The LGBTQ+ presence at the 2024 Democratic National Convention is historic. Over 800 of the party’s delegates identify as LGBTQ+, the largest contingent in history, which includes more than four dozen transgender and nonbinary delegates. The surge in LGBTQ+ representation among delegates comes as LGBTQ+ and allied voting power is surging as well. The nation’s number of Equality Voters, those who prioritize issues of equality when deciding who to vote for, has grown to a record 75 million, with millions located in key battleground states that were decided by narrow margins in 2020.
Robinson’s remarks will stream live on the Democratic National Convention’s website.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
