HRC Endorsement Disappointment

If you pay any attention to US politics then you are probably aware the political parties are in the middle of their decision making process to choose their candidates for presidency. Meaning a lot of debates, speeches, and media attention is currently on all the nominees running. Today the news broke that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT organization in the US, has endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. 

However, myself and many others are finding issue with this decision. Clinton has a history of being against the LGBT community including being an advocate against same-sex marriage during her time as First Lady when she publicly supported her husband signing DOMA into law, then later as a senator of New York, and as a 2008 presidential candidate. She didn't speak favorable of same-sex marriage until 2013. Since then she's barely done anything for the LGBT community outside a speech or two.  

Now I'm not saying people can't change and become more accepting, but what causes me to be weary of Hillary is the fact that she's never explained why she changed her mind. She merely says she "evolved". Alright, that's great but why? Without a real explanation, how can we as voters and citizens be sure she's being sincere and not just trying to win votes? Perhaps everyday people don't need to explain themselves, but when you are gunning to become the next leader of our country we deserve answers. 

Frankly, the candidate myself and many others believe the HRC should have endorsed is Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders has a long standing history of fighting for the LGBT community and standing as an ally. During the 1970's, when he ran for office in Vermont (both 1972 and 1976), Sanders proposed abolishing the laws that discriminate based on sexuality. Following that in 1983, during his time as mayor of Burlington, VT, he backed the first pride parade the city ever had and supported the Organizing Committee of the Lesbian and Gay Pride Celebration's proclamation to make June 25 Lesbian and Gay Pride Day. His record with the LGBT community only improves from there as he is the only 2016 candidate who can say they voted against DOMA in 1996. In 1999, he voted against an amendment that would have made it illegal in Washington, D.C. for same-sex couples to adopt children. Following that, Sanders supported Vermont's civil union law in 2000 and the state's legalization of same-sex marriage in 2009. He pushed President Obama to support same-sex marriage back in 2011, and in 2013 co-sponsored the Uniting Families Act which would've allowed partners of legal US citizens stay in the country as legal residents. 

My point with all these facts is simple. Hillary Clinton's rocky past has me skeptical of equality's future in the US if she's elected. However, Bernie Sanders has always fought for and stood with the LGBT community. Frankly, I believe the HRC made a mistake with their endorsement. 

To find out more on Senator Sanders envolvment in the LGBT Community-

http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-lgbtq-rights/