Speaking to the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, the Democratic presidential front-runner foresaw a seismic shift in the way LGBT people are treated not only in the U.S. but also around the world.
These are the promises she made to the Lesbian,Gay,Transgenders and bisexual community in the United States:
1. End injustice against LGBT Americans "once and for all."
"You know the obstacles that remain better than I do, but I want you to know that I get it. I see the injustices and the dangers that you and and your families still face, and I'm running for president to end them once and for all.2. Advocate for and sign the federal Equality Act into law.
"I talk about my campaign as being about improving the economy, so everyone who works hard to do his or her part to get ahead can stay ahead, but I also talk about enforcing our basic civil and human rights. I'm running for president to stand up for the fundamental rights of LGBT Americans, and all Americans. That's a promise from one HRC to another."
"It's outrageous that in 2015, you can still be fired for being gay, you can still lose your home for being gay, you can even be denied a wedding cake for being gay. And this kind of discrimination goes against everything we stand for as Americans. Congress must pass the federal Equality Act, and that law would finally outlaw discrimination against LGBT people, basically everywhere: in employment, housing, public education, public accommodations, access to federal funding, and in the jury system. It's a great, noble piece of legislation that deserves to become the law of the land. As president, I will fight for it, and I hope many of you will be with me when I sign it into law."3. Cap out-of-pocket expenses for people living with chronic illnesses, including HIV and AIDS.
"You may have read recently about a drug, that's been around for decades, that went from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill literally overnight; a 5,000 percent increase. What is not talked about enough is that medication is one that many HIV-positive patients rely on every day. Now with pressure from me and others, the CEO of the drug company says he'll lower the price, but he hasn't done it yet, and every day that he stalls, people with HIV are forced to worry and wait, and pay hundreds of dollars more, for medication that keeps them well. That is wrong, and as president, I'll take on the drug companies, I'll cap out-of-pocket expenses for people with chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS."4. Upgrade the discharges of all LGB veterans dismissed under "don't ask, don't tell" (which her husband signed into law in 1993) and the earlier military ban on homosexuality.
"'Don't ask, don't tell' is over, but that doesn't change the fact that over 14,000 men and women were forced out of the military for being gay; some long before 'don't ask, don't tell' even existed. Many were given less than honorable discharges. I can't think of a better way to thank those men and women for their service than by upgrading their service records and making sure they get the honorable discharge they deserve."5. Support the Pentagons current review of the long standing ban on military service by out transgender Americans
"Meanwhile, you know, transgender people are still barred from serving. That is an outdated rule, especially since you and I know there are transgender people in uniform, right now, they're just keeping this core part of their identities under wraps, because they are so committed to defending our nation. They shouldn't have to do that. That's why I support the policy review that Defense Secretary Carter recently announced at the Pentagon. And it's why I hope the United States joins many other countries that let transgender people serve openly. Now, we pride ourselves on having the world's best military, but being the best doesn't just mean having the best trained forces or the biggest arsenal. It also means being a leader on issues like this; on who we respect enough to let serve with dignity as themselves."
6. Cut off federal funding for adoption agencies that discriminate against LGBT parents.
"I will also fight to defend lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender parents. Eleven states ban same-sex couples and LGBT individuals from adopting. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of kids in foster care are ready, in fact, eager, to become part of loving families. This, to my mind, is one of the cruelest vestiges of antigay bigotry, and it's also really cruel to those kids. Being a good parent has absolutely nothing to do with your sexual orientation or your gender identity. The thousands of happy, healthy children being raised by LGBT people proves that. And as president, I would push to cut off federal funding for any child welfare agency that discriminates against LGBT people. For me, there is no excuse — none — for hurting children and families like this."7. Stand up against antigay school policies.
"We've got to stand up for our young people, trying to live like the teenagers they are, going to the prom with your boyfriend or girlfriend is a rite of passage that every young person deserves, don't you think?"8, Defend LGBT rights abroad, including bailing out jailed LGBT activists.
"And let me ask you also, to keep standing up for the human rights of the LGBT community worldwide. Hundreds of millions of people live in places where they can be arrested, even executed for being gay. Just a few days ago, the president of Zimbabwe stood up at the U.N. and gave a furious speech about the dangers of equal rights for gay people.According to him,in Zimbabwe,he said,we are not gays. Now, I'm guessing the LGBT activists sitting in prison in Zimbabwe would disagree with him, if ever given a chance to have a platform like he had. That's why in 2011, as Chad Griffin, HRC president] said, I did go to Geneva and say what should have been obvious but needed saying, that human rights are gay rights, and gay rights are human rights.
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