O’Rourke Supports LGBTQ Community During Pride Month

In one of the most conservative and Republican-dominated states of the United States, Beto O’Rourke positions himself in favor of the LGBTQ+ community.

Texas is one of the lesser LGBTQ+ friendly states in the country, with less inclusive and open workplaces. Greg Abbott, the current Republican Governor, has done many things in his power to reduce the transgender community’s access to public healthcare and protection of their rights. His contender for the next election race, Democrat Beto O’Rourke, has shown solidarity with the community in the past and in his current campaign.

Celebration of Pride Month started in June, a month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, lead by black transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson in 1969. It is a moment of remembering those who paved the way for the community to have the human rights we have today and to continue to recognize what needs to be done. O’Rourke shared the following message on his Twitter:

He has been an advocate for the fight of LGBTQ+ rights and raising queer activist voices as part of his campaign. He proposed a plan of action in 2019, and even stated that churches that discriminate against someone because of their sexuality or gender expression should lose tax benefits.

In contrast, current governor Greg Abbott has shown little support for the community. Quite the contrary, he has pushed several actions that go against their rights, and threaten their wellbeing. He proposed filing parents of transgender children who help them get gender conversion therapy as abusers, has banned books with LGBTQ+ characters and called them pornography, and has overall pushed the message that he has no plans in supporting the community.