express has the rundown on today’s US Presidential election and what it will mean for LGBT people in America and across the world.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden will head into today’s US Presidential election with an overwhelming lead amongst LGBT voters.
74% of LGBT registered voters said they support Obama’s Vice President Joe Biden, while just 17% back Trump according to GLAAD’s State of LGBT Voters released in October.
The final days of the campaign (which will culminate with this afternoon’s election results) has seen Democratic candidate Joe Biden vow to pass the proposed Equality Act protecting LGBT Americans within the first 100 days of his presidency.
“I will make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority during my first 100 days – a priority that Donald Trump opposes,” Biden told Philadelphia Gay News.
The Trump administration on the other hand has opposed the Equality Act, claiming it would “undermine parental and conscience rights,” and impedes on “religious freedom.”
Biden’s commitments to the LGBT community will not be confined to the borders of the United States with the former Vice President saying he will defend the rights of US diplomats who speak out in favour of LGBT rights in countries that are hostile to them, promising to “America’s full range of diplomatic tools,” including diplomacy, public statements and United Nations agencies, to promote equality.
“I’ll stand up to bullies and once more put human rights at the centre of America’s engagement with the world,” Biden said.
This is in contrast to Donald Trump’s continued support for anti-gay leaders such as Vladimir Putin in Russia and Jair Bolsonaro in Russia.
President Donald Trump has said very little about LGBT rights on the campaign trail, despite his wife posting a misleading video on social media claiming her husband is a supporter of the LGBT community.
Melania Trump tweeted a video praising her husband’s record, despite it being far from glowing when it comes to LGBT rights. The First Lady claimed those who pointed out her Husband’s opposition to LGBT rights were his “many enemies in the political establishment.”
“I was shocked to discover that some of these powerful people have tried to paint my husband as anti-gay or against equality. Nothing could be further from the truth,” said the first lady.
