Democratic 2020 Candidates Will Hold LGBTQ Forum This Fall
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Candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination will take part in a special forum focused specifically on LGBTQ issues this fall, it has been announced. Topics of discussion will include conversion-therapy restrictions, hate crimes, and transgender rights, organizers say. The panel will be hosted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and is scheduled on Oct. 10—the evening of National Coming Out Day. “Millions of LGBTQ people will have their rights on the ballot in 2020—but today we are also a powerful voting bloc that will help determine the outcome,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. To be invited, participants need to poll at least 1 percent three national polls, or receive 65,000 donations from people in 20 states. That means Pete Buttigieg, an out Democrat seeking the nomination, has already qualified. Gary Segura, dean of UCLA Luskin, said: “We are beyond excited to partner with the Human Rights Campaign in raising LGBTQ issues and the policy stances of candidates to greater public attention in this cycle.”