Equality Pennsylvania Renews Commitment to Keep Working for LGBT Equality

While the result is disappointing, Equality advocates look to broad public support for LGBT Equality

LINK TO THIS STATEMENT: http://equalitypa.org/?p=2398

Harrisburg - November 9. 2016 – Ted Martin, Executive Director, Equality Pennsylvania gave this statement today in response to the presidential election results:

"Today's election result is a difficult blow to many in the LGBT community, women, and people of color. Many will see this as a backlash against the progress that we have made in the past decades. We know that LGBT Pennsylvanians are now fearful for their futures and their physical safety. Given the intense and often hateful rhetoric of the past several months we cannot blame them.

However, the freedom to be who you are or to love whom you love is a fundamental American value and we will continue to work to protect that freedom. We know that we have bipartisan support for that fundamental value. Now is the time for unity, not fear and division.

Unfortunately, in the LGBT community, we have been here before. This is not the first time that we have had a president and vice president who have made statements that don't support our community. And, it is certainly disappointing and disheartening to see that many people voted for candidates who support policies that will hurt the LGBT community. However, we made progress then- and we will continue to make progress now.

If there ever were a community of people who have shown resilience in the face of adversity and discrimination- it is us. We know how to come together, and we will need to do that now, for ourselves and for future generations.

Polling still shows majority support for discrimination protections for gay and transgender people and marriage equality. Our work continues tomorrow to persuade our elected leaders to support basic American freedoms for all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

ABOUT EQUALITY PENNSYLVANIA

With 60,000 members across the commonwealth, Equality Pennsylvania is the leading organization advancing equality and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians.