November 13, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Chelsea Clinton: ‘Ex-gay’ therapy most offensive part of GOP confab

Chelsea Clinton speaks at an event for LGBT Democratic National Convention delegates hosted by the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund on July 27, 2016. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Chelsea Clinton speaks at an event for LGBT Democratic National Convention delegates hosted by the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund on July 27, 2016. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

BY CHRIS JOHNSON  |  Chelsea Clinton said Wednesday the “most offensive” thing about last week’s Republican National Convention was the embrace of widely discredited “ex-gay” conversion therapy in the party platform.

“I think what I found most offensive really has to be, as a mom, the open embrace of conversion therapy in the Republican Party platform,” Clinton said. “In other words, child abuse.”

Although Clinton called Republican remarks in Cleveland as a whole “divisive, degrading, demeaning,” she said language in support of conversion therapy should itself be a “clarion call” to elect her mother, Hillary Clinton, as well as Democrats up and down the ballot.

Chelsea Clinton said the 2016 election is the most important in her lifetime, first because it’s the first election in which she’s voting as a mother, and second because of the risk to recent accomplishments on LGBT rights.

“When I think about the world that I hope for my children, when I hope that they can be safe and secure and loved and supported and be whomever they want to be and whomever they feel called to be with whomever they want to love in their lives, that vision is at risk given what Trump and Pence are currently campaigning on,” Clinton said.

Clinton made the remarks before an estimated 300 attendees at a lunch event for LGBT delegates co-hosted by the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute at the Hilton Philadelphia.

Taking the podium to a standing ovation, Clinton urged the audience to sit down, saying if they didn’t she would start crying. Reflecting on the speech from former President Bill Clinton on the previous night, Chelsea Clinton said not crying has been a challenge for her throughout the convention because she “almost cried many times when my father spoke last night.”

Clinton touted the number of openly LGBT candidates running in the 2016 election, saying the country must “elect people who reflect our values” to ensure her mother can make good on her campaign promises.

The goals around LGBT rights Clinton said her mother plans to achieve are signing the Equality Act into law, signing legislation barring widely discredited “ex-gay” conversion therapy nationwide, clearing military records for gay troops discharged because of their sexual orientation and helping LGBT youth obtain needed services and support.

“I will do everything I can between now and November to ensure that as many people I can reach know what’s really at stake in this election, and how mom is fighting for and how she has fought for a better life in stark contrast to what Trump and Pence are proposing,” Clinton said. “And I hope that all of you will continue to be part of this effort.”

Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus has denied the party platform endorses “ex-gay” therapy. The language says, “We support the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children.”

Other speakers at the event sounded the alarm over Trump and running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for the perceived threat they pose to LGBT people.

Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) a gay lawmaker, referred to Pence’s campaign platform in 2000 as a U.S. House candidate, which said he wouldn’t back federal HIV/AIDS funds unless money was cut to initiatives “that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus.”

“This is a man who cut HIV funding and then put all that money that he took out of HIV funding into gay conversion therapy,” Takano said. “What kind of person does that?”

An audience member shouted out in response, “A horrible one,” eliciting applause from the audience.

Attendees hissed when Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said the Trump-Pence ticket was the biggest threat to LGBT people ever posed by a presidential ticket.

“The true test of all our success will be whether we’re able to protect and build on the progress that we all made under President Obama, or whether we will allow it all to be stripped away, stripped away by the gravest threat our community has ever faced in a presidential election,” Griffin said.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the first openly gay state attorney general, said the Republicans are being “downright scary” by proposing an anti-LGBT platform, an anti-LGBT governor as vice president and state anti-LGBT laws.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), another gay lawmaker, accused the GOP of being “more worried about who’s in our bathrooms than who’s buying guns” in the United States, referencing the party’s anti-trans bathroom measures and lack of support for gun safety.

Pocan also chided Trump for stumbling over the LGBTQ acronym during his acceptance speech at the Republican convention and for his use of the phrase “ask the gays” to compare himself to Clinton.

“Whenever you put pronouns in front of the word gays, you’ve lost any positive connotation,” Pocan said.

—  SPECIAL TO THE PRIDE LA FROM THE NATIONAL GAY MEDIA ASSOCIATION AND WASHINGTON BLADE.

Related Posts

Legendary Actor Tony Todd, Known for Iconic Horror Roles, Dies at the Age of 69

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Star of Candyman and Final Destination Remembered by Fans and Peers Iconic actor and Marina del Rey resident Tony Todd passed away on Wednesday,...

Brittany Cartwright to Open New Bar in West Hollywood Near ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Hotspots

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

The Valley Star Announces “Britt’s” as Her Latest Venture Sans Jax Taylor Brittany Cartwright, the estranged wife of Jax Taylor,...

Metro’s New Bus Lane Camera Enforcement Aims to Speed Up Commutes for LA Riders

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Pilot Program Begins With 60-Day Warning Period to Clear Bus Lanes The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), in...

Trevor Project Sees 700% Spike in LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Contacts After Election

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Post-Election Anxiety and Election-Related Concerns Surge The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading organization for suicide prevention and crisis intervention among...

Baby2Baby Gala Raises Record $17 Million to Support Families in Need

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Event Honors Charlize Theron at the Pacific Design Center The Baby2Baby nonprofit organization held its annual gala on Saturday, Nov....

Trump Supporters Attempt to Taunt West Hollywood Residents with Flag-Waving Convoy on Saturday

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Peaceful Saturday Interrupted By Conservative Provocation From Outside of LA There were reports of a Trump caravan driving through West...

Racist Text Messages Target Students in Santa Monica, West LA, Raising Alarm Among Schools, Families

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Outrage Spreads as Disturbing, Racially Charged Messages Reach Students and Others By Dolores Quintana Schools on the Westside of Los...

Governor Newsom Convenes Special Session to Protect California Rights Against Future Federal Policies

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Special Session Called To Defend Civil Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Climate Initiatives Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a special session of...

West Hollywood to Honor Veterans and LGBTQ Service Members at Veterans Day Ceremony

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

City’s Annual Ceremony Will Feature National Anthem by Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles The City of West Hollywood will...

Megacity Review: Genaro Trejo’s Global Platform for Urban Arts and Literature Launches in Los Angeles’ Westside

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Santa Monica, CA – A new voice has arrived on the Los Angeles literary scene with the launch of Megacity...

Chinese Chemical Company and Executives Indicted for Allegedly Fueling Fentanyl Crisis in Los Angeles

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

U.S. DOJ Charges Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech and Executives With 13 Counts  A federal grand jury has indicted Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech...

Los Angeles LGBT Center and GLAAD Respond to 2024 Election, Vowing to Fight for Equality

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Center CEO Joe Hollendoner and GLAAD’s Sarah Kate Ellis Address Community Concerns In response to the November 5th election results,...

Starbucks Kicks Off the Holidays with Festive Cups, New Drinks, and a Special Surprise

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Returning Classics, Cran-Merry Refreshers, and Expanded Pastry Selections on Thursday Starbucks is ringing in the holiday season with the return...

Lei’d Cookies in Culver City Offers Sweet In-Store Discount For a Challenging Week

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Handcrafted Flavors, Community Spirit: Enjoy Lei’d Cookies’ Limited-Time Offer Lei’d Cookies, a popular dessert spot in Culver City’s Hayden Tract...

Thanksgiving 2024: The Best Places to Order Your Holiday Pies in Los Angeles

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Get Ready for Your Thanksgiving Dinner With the Best Desserts November is the official start of the holiday season and...