VP Harris Surprises D.C. Pride, Talks Equality Act

Vice President Kamala Harris surprised D.C. Pride-goers with an impromptu parade drop-in this past week. Harris and the Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, beamed as they walked alongside members and allies of the LGBTQ community, sporting “Love is Love” t-shirts and shouting “Happy Pride!”

The seemingly casual appearance will go down in history as Harris became the first Vice President in the United States to attend a Pride event. Harris has been a vocal advocate for pro-LGBTQ legislation throughout her political career, and she has pledged to continue to further her support for the community as vice president.

After winning her first political office as San Francisco’s distract attorney in 2004, Harris went to work right away securing equal rights and protections for the queer community. She immediately established a hate crimes unit to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of anti-LGBTQ violence. In 2006, Harris organized a conference with more than 100 officials from across the country to end the use of “gay and transgender panic” defenses in the U.S. judicial system. In 2018, as senator of California, Harris abolished the bigoted practice nationally. The list of her pro-LGBTQ work goes on. 

In between moments of celebration, Harris took time to speak with constituents about the importance of passing the Equality Act. “We celebrate all the accomplishments. Finally marriage is the law of the land,” Harris says. “We need to make sure that our transgender community are all protected. There is so much more work to do and I know we are committed.”

The Equality Act currently resides in the Senate, where its fate in unclear. The bill passed through the House along party lines, with only three republicans jumping ship to support it. Although democrats have a majority in the Senate with Harris tipping the scales in their favor, the Equality Act would need at least 60 votes to be filibuster-proof. In other words, 10 republicans would have to cross over, a scenario that seems unlikely given the massive wave of anti-trans legislation supported by the GOP.

VP Harris and President Biden are not giving up. Though the Equality Act is stalled, Biden signed executive orders within his first 100 days to extend the protections determined by the Bostock v Clayton verdict. Harris also continues to vocalize and gather support for the Equality Act on her socials.

We hope to see Vice President Harris and the Second Gentleman at Pride events next year as well! With any luck, we’ll be celebrating the passing of the Equality Act in 2022.

LGBTQ Americans, I want you to know: We see you. We hear you. President Joe Biden and I will not rest until everyone has equal protection under the law. Happy #Pride. pic.twitter.com/HSEkOyZyLe

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 13, 2021