Several out Democrats delivered remarks at the Democratic National Convention and LGBTQ representation was visible on and off the stage at the United Center in Chicago. Many of the speeches delivered by Democrats — from President Joe Biden to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker — also brought attention to the broader fight for LGBTQ rights.
The first night of the convention on Aug. 19 featured two out lawmakers from Harris’ home state of California: out lesbian California Senator Laphonza Butler, who pointed to parallels between her career and Harris’ political journey; and Congressmember Robert Garcia, who slammed former President Trump’s handling of the pandemic as he told a personal story of losing his mother and stepfather to COVID.
