Our Progress Is At Stake: Harris-Walz and Pro-Equality Democrats Are the Only Choice for LGBTQ+ Americans
Community voices: Michigan LGBTQ+ leaders weigh in
Ahead of the 2024 general election, Pride Source asked community leaders to weigh in on the important issues facing the Michigan LGBTQ+ community. Ann Arbor-based State Rep. Jason Morgan, who is running for reelection in Michigan’s 23rd House District, writes about the importance of supporting the Harris-Walz campaign to protect LGBTQ+ rights in Michigan and beyond. Find other community perspectives here.
This November, everything is at stake — our rights, our safety and our freedom to be who we are and love who we love. We face a stark choice as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Every election, we’re told that it’s “the most important election of our lifetimes.” This year, the future of everything is on the line in a way we’ve not seen before.
It truly is the most important election of our lifetimes.
We can choose Donald Trump, who has continually shown hostility to our community through hate and harassment, or we can choose Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who believe that everyone should be treated with respect and be able to live with authenticity, not fear.
I am all too familiar with the hate that many in our community are facing. You only have to look at the way they speak about us and their constant attempts to rip away our freedom to simply exist — in classrooms, at nightclubs and at work. But as an openly gay elected official in Michigan, I’ve witnessed the battles we’ve fought — and won — in making our state a more inclusive and just place for all our people. We’ve come a long way in the last few years, but make no mistake: This is only the result of electing pro-equality Democrats up and down the ballot.
Last year, we amended the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It was long overdue. No one in Michigan should lose their job, be denied housing or face harassment because of who they love or how they identify. Just as crucial, we banned the harmful, outdated and bigoted “gay panic” defense. For too long, our very existence was weaponized against us. No longer can someone claim they were provoked to violence simply because they encountered an LGBTQ+ person. These are not just legal reforms; they are moral victories that affirm our dignity and humanity.
A majority of Republicans voted against LGBTQ+ protections in our civil rights bill in Michigan, but all pro-progress Democrats you elected listened to our needs, fought for our rights and put people first. This isn’t just political rhetoric — it’s real action, making our lives better in tangible ways.
But let’s be clear: Progress is fragile. In Trump’s first term, he banned transgender Americans from serving in our military, gutted protections for LGBTQ+ healthcare and appointed extreme judges who oppose same-sex marriage. If re-elected, Trump and his allies will implement their Project 2025 agenda by punishing doctors who treat transgender youth and repealing the Affordable Care Act, which helps the LGBTQ+ community access the care they need without discrimination.
By contrast, President Biden and Vice President Harris signed the Defense of Marriage Act to protect same-sex couples, signed an executive order to ensure transgender Americans can serve their country, supported LGBTQ+ youth facing mental health crises and homelessness and strengthened the Affordable Care Act.
In Michigan, Democrats have proven that we can create lasting change and are on the right track. But we’re not done yet. There’s still more work to do, more people to uplift and more wrongs to right. As you prepare to vote, remember what’s at stake.
This election isn’t just about one candidate — it’s about the future of our state and country. The stakes are high, and make no mistake, the reasons for fear are real. But we are not powerless. Every single vote is a voice. Our country needs YOUR voice. LGBTQ+ Americans need you to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
Visit vote411.org and michiganvoting.org to learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot and to make a voting plan.
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