[ cheers and applause ] good evening, everyone, and welcome to a historic night. Cnns democratic president ial town hall, equality in america. Im don lemon, thank you so much for being here. There was a time when people were afraid, and you know many still are. Theyre afraid to come out to their friends and their families for fear of the consequences. Now it has been four years since the Supreme Court ruled same sex marriage is legal. It is a big step. But there is still a whole lot of work to do. Tonights cnn and the Human Rights Campaign have been hosting an unprecedented event where members of the Lgbtq Community and their allies can ask the candidates questions that are important to them. Well soon hear from senator amy klobuchar, julian castro, and businessman tom steyer. But first i want you to welcome to the stage now congressman beto orourke. Hey, everybody, good to see
you. How you doing, congressman . Good to see you. I saw you on the street and you introduced yourself. How many times have i interviewed you. I was like, beto, i know who you are. Lets get right to the folks. Were here for them. I want to get to the questions, start with Sabrina Robinson who runs her own Small Business that works on the financial side of film and television industry. Thank you. Beto. Hi. As you well know Texas Proportionately as as many lgbtq folks as any other state. Thanks in no small part to austin. And yet the Texas State Legislature consistently leads the country in creating discriminatory laws against our own people. How do you change a state like texas to once and for all support human rights for all . Thank you for the question. I want to acknowledge the truth of what youre saying, that it
is still legal, although it is not okay, to be fired in texas for your Sexual Orientation. In texas a state that had 30,000 children in the Foster Care System and a Child Protective Services agency that was so underfunded that some of those children were sleeping underneath and on top of the desks at cps offices you can still by law be too gay to adopt one of those children into your loving hoe. And in texas as you alluded to, debated a transgender Bathroom Bill in our state amidst an epidemic of violence against transgender americans, especially transwomen of color. Texas unfortunately leads the country in violence against transwomen of color. Im thinking of italy marlo who was just murdered in houston, texas right now and other women who are killed with virtual impunity in the United States of america. But heres why we have cause for hope. There are grassroots organizations, like equality texas, who are standing up for
the full civil rights of every american and stopped that Bathroom Bill in texas. There are voters across the state, republican, democrat and independent alike, who voted for me in record numbers last year, not despite, but because. I was talking about treating every single american with the respect and the dignity that theyre owed. And because they support ideas like signing into law the equality act so that the full civil rights of every single american are going to be respected, or that we ensure that we make violence against transwomen, actually transwomen of color a National Law Enforcement priority. So though it defies our expectations and goes against the conventional political wisdom i think were going to surprise the rest of the country when texas leads the way on human rights and civil rights for every single one of us. Thank you for asking the question. This is from your lgbtq plan, this is what you write. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right but it should not be used to discriminate. Do you think religious institutions like colleges,
churches, charities, should they lose their Tax Exempt Status if they oppose same sex marriage . Yes. There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution, any organization in america that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us. And so as president were going to make that a priority and we are going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow americans. Congressman, thank you. To your left, this person is named chris king. Thanks for being here. My friends drew and juan were shot at Pulse Nightclub in 2016. I would like to know what you would do differently to break the impasse on gun control because ive had all the thoughts and prayers i can take. Chris, thank you for asking
the question. I am all the way with you on this. In addition to that hate crime, that Act Of Terror in orlando, florida, as we know just on august 3rd of this year, 22 were killed in a walmart in el paso, texas. Not an act of god. Not by force of nature. Not a random event. Entirely predictable in america today. Especially with a president who has sent a signal in the clearest terms, when he issues a transgender troop ban, when he denies the rights of our fellow americans because of their Sexual Orientation or gender identity, or who describes immigrants as rapists and criminals, and in a country that loses 40,000 of our fellow americans to gun violence every year, you have racism, intolerance and hatred, and it is more armed today than it ever was before. So what is our solution to that . In addition to all the things we talked about so far, in standing
up against intolerance and hatred and homophobia, we also need to disarm it. That means universal background checks, red flag laws, someone who has a firearm and pose as danger to themselves or someone else is stopped before its too late, ending the sale of weapons designed exclusively for youths on a battlefield, ar15s and ak47s, in addition knowing there are 16 million ar15s and ak47s out there we must buy back each and every single one of them. They are potential instruments of terror. So were going to do that. And, chris, please keep the faith and know that you have a champion in me. I will be that champion as your president. All right. Thank you. Thank you, congressman. Theres Tony Valenzuela standing right there, an Executive Director of the foundation for the a. I. D. S. Monument. Tony . Thank you, its a pleasure to meet you. Im a Latino Gay Man Living with
hiv for 26 years. Our communities get closer to Hiv Eradication through treatment and prevention and yesterday americans living with hiv are subject to outat a timed and Stigmatizing Criminal Laws will you support Legislation Calling for the review of all Hiv Criminal Laws and take action to end the criminalization of americans based on hiv status . What other steps, if any, would you take to help reduce hiv a. I. D. S. Stigma and discrimination in the United States . Tony, thank you for the question and thank you for the work that youre doing. Youre right that there is discrimination against our fellow americans. As well as discrimination against those who are coming into this country. Asylum seekers, families separated based on the hiv status of a Single Family member. We dont do that for families who come here with the flu or other Health Care Challenges right now in this country. Weve singled out a population in america. At the same time we have absolutely failed our fellow americans in making sure that we
prevent the spread of hiv in america. Though we know that truvada, the brand name for prep, has up to a 99 Effectiveness Rate in stopping the spread of hiv for those who are taking it of the 1. 3 million of our fellow americans who are at risk today less than 10 are regularly taking truvada. Though you and i as u. S. Taxpayer invested in the research and development, the clinical trials, the purchase of those medications for those who are insured under medicare or medicaid or through federal Health Insurance plans we have the highest costs on the planet today, up to 2,000 per month for one person. Which helps to explain why we have absolutely failed in making sure everyone gets that care. 40,000 new cases of hiv just last year in 2018. We can do something about this. And as president i will. We will bring down that cost. And if gilead fails to honor
their commitment to the taxpayer, to our fellow americans we will take over that patent and we will make sure that prep is distributed to every person in america who needs that. And the discrimination against those who have hiv in america today. Congressman, if you will, let me follow up on that. Sure. In dozens of states in this country a person can be prosecuted for not revealing their hiv status. A person can face up to 15 years in prison for not disclosing their status. Even if it means its undetectable. Should these laws be overturned . I think they should. I think the goal has to be equal treatment, which weve been talking about here today, nondiscrimination in america and it also has to be on the Public Health needs of our fellow americans. Instead of being focus on Pen Penalizing or punishing or incarcerating people with hiv,
what if we focused on stopping the spread of hiv in the manner i just described, making sure prep is affordable and available and accessible to every american who needs to use it with more than 1. 3 million at risk today and only 10 able to avail themselves of that lifesaving drug right now. Our next question, from the Program Manager for the transwellness center. Ariana . First i want to say to everybody to open your hearts because immigration is also an lgbt issue. Thats right. I came to this country seeking asylum 20 years ago. Im a survivor and a fighter. I became u. S. Citizen last year, and i cannot be more proud to be able to vote. A better life, that was my only option to survive. There is the possibility right now that other Asylum Seekers will send back to the same country where they experienced persecution, harassment and even torture to wait for their asylum process. Do you have a plan to deal with this crisis . Absolutely. If ever there were a time to assert Global Leadership on the issue of human rights for the United States of america it is now. But unfortunately were going in exactly the opposite direction. We no longer recognize this as a valid claim for asylum. Though we know that when we turn people back to their country of origin where they face persecution they often face certain death. Weve got to make sure we welcome all those who have literally no other place to go to. And retake our place as the indispensable country in the world against setting the moral example so we can exert the moral leadership across the world and make this a cornerstone of our foreign policy. In fact, im going to have a fulltime person in the State Department who works with other
countries to advocate for the full human rights of their citizens as well but we wont wait on those countries to change. If someone needs to come here to seek shelter or asylum or refuge we are going to welcome them now. I was in a synagogue in new york not too long ago where they welcomed refugees and Asylum Seekers from around the world, predominantly from the Lgbtq Community. And what those Asylum Seekers told me really made an impact on me. In many cases they had to leave because their families had rejected them. They were not welcome back at home. They come to this country, strangers in a strange land, not speaking the language and a country that has seen record levels of intolerance and homophobia against their community. They need help right now. And as president i will make sure that we provide that help, that we treat Asylum Seekers with the dignity and respect that they deserve as human beings and no one is disqualified for being different. We bring everyone in, understand that is the foundation of our success, our strength and also our safety and our security. Im so glad that youre here. Thank you. Thank you, mariana. Tamara hyde is here, a Graduate Student 12studying Public Polic at ucla. Research supports that Black Transwomen are being killed at higher rates than anyone else in the Lgbtq Community. What would you do to have safeguards in place . Im going to listen to transwomen of color. They will be the guide on this issue. They will direct our policy. Im thinking in particular of Ja Niece Point Dexter a woman at a town hall in detroit, michigan said hey, beto, what are you going to do about it . We had a conversation. I asked if she would advise me on these issues, which she has, to make me smarter as a candidate and effective as a
president. We will no longer allow transwomen of color to be killed with impunity in the United States of america. If local Law Enforcement wont make it a priority, the local da will not prosecute, we are going to involve our Department Of Justice and our Attorney General to look at these as civil Rights Violations and a matter of restoring the very fabric of america, equal treatment under the law, and equal justice for everyone. So were going to make sure that the resources are there, but also, i think its extraordinarily important for our president to speak in terms of pride and celebration of those who make this country great in the first place, to reject the service of transgender americans, who put their lives on the line for this country. Who are willing to sacrifice their lives and in many cases have, saving the lives of countless americans. That has sent a signal to people in this country that both hatred and violence is okay, at least according to our current president. So i think its really important, from the highest office in the land, to set the standard, to speak in the most positive terms, to overturn that transgender troop ban on day one, and to make stopping this epidemic of violence against transwomen a top priority for the United States of america. Thank you for asking the question. And thats not Just Lip Service. Transwomen have been hearing that. Theres not enough coverage for transwomen. How do you assure them its not Just Lip Service youre giving because they want to know that from the folks on this stage . Absolutely. Because im talking about this, not just here in front of this audience, im talking about it everywhere that i go across the country. Im convinced, because i believe in america, and the people of this country, that once they know what is happening in america, to a population that very often is not heard from, that does not have a seat at the table, whose story is not part of the national conversation, once they recognize what is happening, we are going to be able to enlist their help, their focus, our resources as a country to ending this epidemic. So the challenge here can be met by all of us. Regardless of our background or where we are in the country. So ill make sure that we lead on this. Lets talk about something that also doesnt get enough coverage and its controversial, talking about Conversion Therapy, a widely discredited practice that seeks to change a persons Sexual Orientation or possibly their gender identity. Yeah. Should this be illegal . And if it is illegal, what should the punishment be . It should be illegal. As president we will seek to outlaw it everywhere in this country. In my opinion this is tantamount to torture. Torture that were visiting on children who are absolutely defenseless. And so were going to make sure that whatever the penalty is, it is steep enough to dissuade anybody from entering into this practice or being able to torture kids with the kind of impunity that we have seen so far. And were also going to recognize that these kind of
practices, in addition to the immediate torture that that child or that person feels also adds to other challenges that we have. When we look at Homeless Youth in america, 40 identify as lgbtq in america right now. When we look at those who age out of the Foster Care System right now, some of them subject to these Conversion Therapy practices, their outcomes in life are not what they should be in part because of the practices that weve allowed so far. So yes, we will outlaw it and yes, we will ensure that there are penalties stiff enough and enforcement vigorous enough to make sure it does not continue. At the center of most of these issues is religion. So, you know, when you saw youre going to do laws, how do you change peoples minds about religion . Thats whats really telling people, preaching to young people that theyre wrong, that what they are is an abomination, that theyre not supposed to be the way god created them. What does that do to your
head and your conception of yourself and what you think is possible for you in your life . When someone has labeled you as defective or less than . Not only is that terrible for you, it is terrible for all of us in this country and the potential that we are losing out on. Right now, i remember in the El Paso City Council, more than ten years ago, we wrote an ordinance, passed it, that offered Health Care Benefits to the same sex partners of city employees, very controversial idea at the time. And your question about religion, i was born and raised a catholic, and there was a Catholic Priest at the lectern during the call to the public telling me what i was doing was welcoming an abomination to god and he and i really got into it at that podium. A very politically unpopular position for us to take in the council. It sparked recall elections, and citizendriven petitions. But i knew it was the right thing to do, not just for those
city employees but for any child who has read in the newspaper and watched tv, wanting to know what those in positions of power and public trust thought about them. What we were saying from the El Paso City Council is youre every bit as important, every bit as valuable, every bit as much an american and a human being as anyone else and treat you the same as everybody else. Defying the religious condemnation i received from a Catholic Priest as a lifelong catholic, defying the polls and the politics of the moment, and just doing the right thing because it was the right thing to do. Allow the politics to catch up. Thats my philosophy. Thank you, congressman. Appreciate that. Yeah. So trujillo is here, the mother of a transgender son. A Human Rights Campaign, parents for transequality council, lizette and daniel go ahead. I want to take a moment to validate the pain of transgender
siblings that demonstrated earlier, especially transwomen. Let me tell you something, Black Transwomen are being killed in this country and cnn you have erased Black Transwomen for the last time. Black transwomen are dying. Our lives matter. I am an extraordinary Black Transwoman, and i deserve to be here. My black transsisters that are here. I am so tired of its not just my Black Transwomen and black transbrothers too. Im going to say what im going to say. Come here. I want you to talk, whats your name . Blossom c. Brown. Blossom, thank you, let me tell you something. Dont come on the stage. And may i have the mic . May i have the mic . Blossom, let me tell you something. The reason that were here is to validate people like you. That is why were giving thats why were here. Not one Black Transwoman has taken the mic tonight, or Black Transman. Blossom, we cant hear you. Your actions have to speak louder than words. Guess what . Not one Black Transwoman has taken the mic tonight. Not one Black Transman has taken the mic tonight. Show me. Blossom, blossom thank you, i appreciate it. Blossom, youre a Black Transwoman. You have the mic in your hand. Ive taken it and given it back to you. We want to hear from you. Weve had transpeople of color and youre welcome, but we are proud and happy that youre here. Were proud and happy that youre here. Remember, were under a time constraint. Thank you, blossom and i appreciate it. Thats how antiblackness works, amongst people of color. Thats what antiblackness looks like, the erasure of black
transpeople. We are here in this room, please give us that opportunity. Blossom, appreciate it. Thank you very much. Yes, i got it. Congressman, please address that. Id be happy to, yeah, yeah. Thank you, blossom. Just want to remind everyone that stonewall was led by transgender women of color and its 15 years later and were still failing you as a community, but there are mothers like me and other Community Members that are committed to change. And so thank you for allowing that. Thank you. So Many School Districts are focusing on implementing age appropriate comprehensive medically accurate and inclusive sex education. We know that this curriculum reduces risks, creates informed communities and reduces incidents of bullying against
lgbtq students like my child. These efforts are met with attacks by opponents and often times target transgender youth and their families. As president how do you plan to tackle this . Thank you for being here and daniel, im glad that youre here as well. Two things. One, i want to make sure that we follow your lead. And we share with our fellow americans, who may not have a transgender child, just what its like not to be the perpetrator of attacks, as Many Americans are made to fear. Including what these transgender Bathroom Bills we saw in North Carolina and recently in texas, but to acknowledge that transgender children are far more often the victims than they are the perpetrators of those attacks. If we include education in our public schools, in addition to traditional instruction the full social and Emotional Wellbeing of every child, regardless of who they are, not only is that child going to do better, that
class is going to do better, that community is going to do better and we as a country are going to do better, and then i want to commend you because after blossom took the microphone from you, and then returned it after what she said, you acknowledged that she did not grab the mic to speak out against anybody, or to put down anybody, she grabbed the mic to stand up for herself and other transwomen of color. And transmen of color that she talked about as well. Thats what democracy looks like in america and i love that you talked about stonewall 50 years ago, or i think about act up in the 1980s or 1990s or prep for all today in 2019, its those activists who are willing to stand up like you are and blossom and daniel is right now, stand up to be counted and to make sure that all of us are counting them in. Thats the only way weve ever achieved change, civil rights and progress in america. So thank you were fgor being a leader in this. Grateful. Thank you very much. That was very emotional and it was real. It was real. Thank you all very much. Congressman beto orourke, everyone. So thank you for being here, everyone. We have three more candidates left in this historic cnn democratic town hall. Up next, senator amy klobuchar. Now, its like he has his own health entourage. He gets medicares largest healthcare network, a free gym membership, vision, dental and more. Theres so much to take advantage of. Cant wait till im 65. A few more chairs, please. Unitedhealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including the only plans with the aarp name. Free dental care and eye exams, and free designer eyewear. Go ahead, take advantage. Keep being you. And ask your doctor about biktarvy. Biktarvy is a complete onepill, onceaday treatment
used for hiv in certain adults. Its not a cure, but with one small pill, biktarvy fights hiv with three different medicines to help you get to undetectable. That means the amount of virus is so low it cant be measured in lab tests. Serious side effects can occur, including Kidney Problems and kidney failure. Rare, lifethreatening side effects include a buildup of lactic acid and liver problems. Do not take biktarvy if you take dofetilide or rifampin. Tell your doctor about all the medicines and supplements you take, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis. If you have hepatitis b, do not stop taking biktarvy without talking to your doctor. Common side effects were diarrhea, nausea, and headache. If youre hivpositive, keep loving who you are, inside and out. Ask your doctor if biktarvy is right for you. Do you recall, not long ago we would walk on the sidewalk all around the wind blows we would only hold on to let go
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