month, they said no, when we lowered health care costs and premiums for working families, they said no. when we defended the civil rights of lbgtq+ americans, they said no. when we protected lives from senseless gun violence, especially in the wake of the horrors of buffalo and uvalde, they said no. when we stood up for women and reproductive freedom, they said no. when we brought manufacturing back to america, they said no. when we answered the urgent call to protect our planet and invest in clean energy, and create tens of millions of good-paying jobs, they said no. when we said women deserve equal pay for equal work, they said
survivor and a member of glaad, thanks for being here for us today. i m sure it has been an emotional draining day for you. can you tell us what it was like and your message to lawmakers? sure, i went to the committee and i wanted to have that message, we need to stop hate rhetoric and we need to support americans, lbgtq americans, transgender americans, and of course, our drag performers, we all have our rights, we don t want those taken away. my message also is about love. we need to change that rhetoric, to understanding, to being together, as one people, that is our dream and that is my message today. you were shot in the arm at the club q shooting. yes. you re still recovering from. that your mobility is still challenged, right, at this point? yes. and during your testimony, we were watching, you said it is apparent this rhetoric, and you re reflecting this here, it is about fear, hatred that
washington, oregon and virginia. in california members of the proud boys harassed and threatened children and their families as they attended a drag queen story hour. police are investigating it as a possible hate crime. according to the associated press, these individuals are part of a massive right wing media ecosystem that s been pushing the idea that there are people who are trying to take your kids to drag shows. there are tr ha ns people trying to groom your chirpch these groups are emboldened by the rash of republican state legislatures that have proposed roughly 240 bills targeting lbgtq americans, half targeting transgender people specifically. make no mistake. their goal is to radicalize the same kinds of people trump and trumpism have radicalized on matters of race, immigration, abortion and demographic change and to do so by any means necessary. joining me now is nbc news senior reporter ben collins. thanks for being here. we reached out to you because you tweeted about wat
religious is not an issue. i know a lot of lbgtq people who considered themselves as religious. i grew up in a religious home and i thought i was going to be a disappointment from my parents. i ran away from home and i contemplate suicide. her language is divisive and dangerous and it is making space for people in their party who seek to harm lbgtq americans. desantis vetoed mental health funding for survival of pulse. i do not believe. i no know what it is like to be the outside of acceptance. it hurts when i know that she s
so important. so you and secretary pete buttigieg have been in d.c. for about six months now after living in south bend. people see you and you post pictures on social media like this one. a second gentleman. you guys are out and about. what has it been like adjusting to this new life? this public life and this responsibility that you have taken on in washington? i never thought growing up that i would be in this position, i love it. i love being here and being in d.c. and being apart of this new wave and generation of hope coming to washington, d.c. you can feel it here in d.c. of the sigh of relief that we have leadership back in washington. we have people in the white house who actually cared about lbgtq americans and it makes me happy being out and proud with my husband going out to dinner