Walz touts Democratic record of defending LGBTQ+ rights, says Harris will advance cause if elected

WASHINGTON — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz touted Vice President Kamala Harris’ record of defending LGBTQ+ rights on Saturday night, pledging to a supportive crowd that she will advance their cause if elected president. Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, headlined the national dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, which he praised as “the best party in the nation.” He entered the sprawling ballroom of 3,500 attendees to John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” and a boisterous standing ovation from members of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ organization. If reelected, Trump has pledged in his policy platform to stop public schools “from promoting gender transition” and to revoke federal funding from any school that teaches what he calls “radical gender ideology.” In a video posted online last year, Trump also said he would punish doctors who administer gender-affirming care to transgender youth by cutting them off from Medicare and Medicaid and teachers who “suggest to a child that they could be trapped in the wrong body.” At an event last week for Moms for Liberty, Trump went after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, continuing to spread misinformation about the Olympic gold medalist being transgender and having an unfair advantage over her competitors. She added that the former president does not believe children should be allowed to have what she called “permanent gender mutilation surgeries.” ___ The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations.