Issue Position: LGBTQ Rights

Issue Position

Freedom means living free of discrimination because of who you are and whom you love.

KEY POLICY
Pass the Equality Act; reverse the ban on transgender military service; enforce the nondiscrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act and key federal civil rights laws; protect LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers
Pete knows that our families, communities, and nation are stronger when we allow all individuals to be true to who they are. We're not fully free when too many LGBTQ individuals remain caught in the criminal justice system or asylum process, when poverty puts HIV treatment out of reach, or when your ability to give blood is contingent on who you love. A person's sexual orientation or gender identity should not limit them from pursuing their dreams and realizing their full potential -- to work, live, and go to school where they want; to love whom they choose, and to live safe, healthy lives.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES
Pass federal legislation to combat bullying and harassment in schools
Improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ youth, parents, and families
Pass federal legislation prohibiting discrimination against prospective LGBTQ adoptive or foster parents
Protect access to homeless shelters for transgender youth by undoing the Trump administration rule that would allow homeless shelters to refuse shelter to transgender youth or require placing them according to their birth gender
Ban conversion therapy
Combat the overrepresentation and mistreatment of LGBTQ people in the criminal justice system, and ensure that incarcerated transgender individuals have access to hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery
Combat the spread of HIV by ensuring access to PrEP for everyone who needs it, regardless of ability to pay

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