Clinton writes op-ed for LGBT paper

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton weighed in on LGBT equality issues in a recent op-ed for the Philadelphia Gay News.

{mosads}Clinton began by praising the progress the LGBT community has achieved in recent years, especially under President Obama.

In the piece published Thursday, Clinton wrote that the United States “has come a long way. Marriage equality is the law of the land.”

“This year, the last state law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting was finally struck down. And President Obama signed an executive order protecting federal workers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. We should celebrate that progress.”

The Democratic nominee then went on to address the challenges that the community still faces, while blasting the Republican ticket’s platform on LGBT issues.

“It’s not just [Donald] Trump’s policies that reveal the kind of president he would be. So does his choice of running mate. Mike Pence is one of the most anti-LGBT public officials in America,” Clinton argued.

“As governor of Indiana, Pence supported a bill that legalized discrimination against LGBT people. As a member of Congress, he voted against expanding the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He opposed the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ saying doing so would be ‘social experimentation.’ And he’s said that homosexuality would bring about ‘societal collapse,’” she added.

Clinton then pledged to fight for LGBT equality and pass the Equality Act, which “would finally provide LGBT people full federal nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment and so much more.”

Clinton also outlined her commitment to “address the ongoing issue of violence against the LGBT community” and “fight to achieve our goal of an AIDS-free generation.” 

According to the PGN, “this is the first time a major-party presidential candidate has written an op-ed for an LGBT newspaper.”

PGN also added that an offer “remains open for Trump” to submit an op-ed of his own.