President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris — who has a history of showing up as an LGBTQ+ ally — to become the new Democratic nominee. Although she has not been officially confirmed — and the process to do that is somewhat complicated at this time — she has received the support of a growing list of party leaders and will likely be named the Democratic nominee in the coming weeks.
As questions linger about who will join Harris as her running mate, conversations have exploded about possibilities. Various news outlets have introduced potential vice presidents, and a handful of names continue to pop — but there’s little information compiled about whether or not each of these front-runners is truly an LGBTQ+ ally.
Of course, LGBTQ+ people consider a variety of issues at the polls — not just topics labeled as LGBTQ+ related. But it’s important to also know if and how some of these potential veeps have supported the community throughout their time in leadership.
Here’s how six of the most popular could-be candidates stack up:
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
Andy Beshear entered politics when he became Kentucky’s attorney general in 2016 after beating his Republican opponent by approximately 2000 votes.
Andy Beshear
During that campaign, Beshear refused to share his personal opinion about same-sex marriage — claiming it could lead to a recusal should be elected and asked to provide a legal opinion at a later date. He explained that he had friends on both sides of the argument and that he expected the issue to be resolved by the Supreme Court.
At the time, Beshear’s father (who was then the state’s governor) was appealing a federal ruling that stated Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries. The state’s seated AG, Democrat John Conway, openly supported LGBTQ+ marriage equality and refused to litigate that matter.
Beshear ran for governor in 2019 and was reelected in 2023, achieving a 60% approval rating despite leading a state that has overwhelmingly backed Trump in previous elections.
He was the first Kentucky governor to attend and speak at an LGBTQ+ rally intended to drum up support for pro-LGBTQ+ legislation. During his speech, he offered vocal support of the group’s efforts to pass antidiscrimination ordinances throughout the state and to ban conversion therapy. He also used his authority to veto anti-trans bills that would have banned trans girls and women from participating in sports, blocked access to trans-affirming care and general healthcare for minors, banned teachers from using gender-affirming pronouns for trans students, and prohibited discussions about LGBTQ+ topics in schools. The Republican-controlled legislature overrode his efforts.
Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg became mayor of South Bend, Indiana in 2012. That same year, Buttigieg — a gay man who had not yet come out publicly — helped to pass a municipal ordinance that protects LGBTQ+ people from housing and employment discrimination.
Pete Buttigieg
In 2015, he spoke out in opposition to legislation signed by then Governor Mike Pence, a bill promoting religious freedom in a way that could discriminate against the queer community. Later that year, Buttigieg came out during his reelection campaign in a column published in a local newspaper.
Buttigieg became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to launch a presidential campaign when he participated in the 2020 Democratic primary race — earning endorsements from the LGBTQ Victory Fund and other queer-centered organizations.
His platform included a variety of plans to promote progress for LGBTQ+ people, including executive orders and improvements to federal programs. Some of his ideas included implementing a mentorship program for LGBTQ+ youth, a nationwide ban on conversion therapy, programs to address disparities facing the most marginalized LGBTQ+ people — such as increased risks for homelessness and violence, lower costs for PrEP, and increased funding for HIV/AIDS research.
He’s continued to be an advocate for LGBTQ+ Americans since entering the national spotlight. Buttigieg has advocated for the passing of the Equality Act — the bill that would expand federal civil rights protections by including LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups.
In 2019, he spoke to a group of Boston students along the campaign trail, underlining that electing more openly LGBTQ+ officials humanizes queerness for conservatives who otherwise distance themselves from facing the impact of their political stances on individual’s lives.
As an LGBTQ+ Christian, he has become a visible representation for other queer people of his faith — who often endure erasure and the exploitation of Christian teachings in rhetoric that justifies anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.
Buttigieg was appointed to serve as Transportation Secretary by President Joe Biden in 2021, making him the first openly gay Cabinet member. He’s the recipient of various awards by LGBTQ+ organizations, recognizing his trailblazing leadership and public service.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
Back in 2012, Roy Cooper, a Democrat who was then the state’s attorney general, publicly opposed North Carolina’s same-sex marriage ban — but as the state’s AG, he argued on behalf of the ban in court, citing it was a job requirement. That stance didn’t change until he felt confident that the state law would be overturned following the passage of marriage equality in 2014.
Roy Cooper
Cooper later became a stronger advocate for LGBTQ+ rights — refusing to defend a 2016 bathroom bill (HB2) that targeted trans people and prevented local governments from passing anti-discrimination ordinances.
Cooper was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) during a contentious gubernatorial race later that same year — securing a stronger margin than Trump’s wins in the state.
After the win, repealing HB2 became one of his top priorities. But he drew criticism from national LGBTQ+ advocacy groups when his negotiations with Republican leaders still cost LGBTQ+ people their rights. Touted by Cooper’s supporters as a necessary compromise, Republicans agreed to repeal HB2 — the bill that implemented trans bathroom bans — in exchange for a three-year ban on nondiscrimination ordinances via HB142.
Activists later realized that the new legislation (HB142) left bathroom bans in place — leading to a lawsuit about the matter.
Cooper also signed an executive order that aims to protect LGBTQ+ people in the workplace by prohibiting anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in state employment and in the process to award state contracts. In that same executive order, Cooper established a commission to identify potential policies and measures that would promote inclusion and address discrimination. In 2019, he banned the practice of conversion therapy for minors.
It’s important to recognize that throughout most of his years in leadership, Cooper has been navigating within conservative territory and has won his own major elections despite voters continuing to favor Republicans for other races.
Last summer, Cooper vetoed three anti-LGBTQ+ bills that targeted students and trans minors. Although the attempt to block the legislation was overridden by state Republicans, the move showed a willingness to send a strong message about discrimination.
United States Sen. Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Gifford — an assassination attempt survivor, earned an endorsement by the HRC during his Arizona senate bid in 2020. Although he is relatively new to politics, a report compiled by GLAAD shows his interest in affirming and protecting LGBTQ+ people.
Mark Kelly
Kelly’s pro-LGBTQ+ efforts include co-sponsoring federal legislation that would ban conversion therapy and another bill that would ensure human rights are upheld for the queer community internationally. He also co-sponsored the Equality Act — which would protect the queer community from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, employment, education, credit and federal funding.
He voted to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which was replaced by the Respect for Marriage Act — legislation that forces states to recognize LGBTQ+ marriages performed beyond their borders.
Kelly has supported the trans community in social media posts — including a post that celebrated Rachel Levine for becoming the first openly trans federal official and another acknowledging Trans Day of Remembrance.
Although Kelly voted to pass the 2024 Defense Authorization Act — the Senate’s version of the annual defense policy bill, he criticized provisions that were added in committee which prohibit military members and their families from using military health systems and insurance to receive trans health care. Additional provisions prohibit the establishment of new diversity, equity and inclusion positions as well as the filling of vacancies in existing DEI positions
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
JB Pritzker, a billionaire from one of the wealthiest families in the United States, has been involved in politics for multiple decades but hasn’t always been in a visible role. A native Illinois resident, he chaired the state’s Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2007, then worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns.
JB Pritzker
In 2017, his own gubernatorial campaign included outspoken support of LGBTQ+ people. Pritzker defeated the incumbent Republican by the largest margin the state had seen in 30 years to become governor.
In 2019, he signed an executive order to create a task force that studied the rights of trans students and ensured trans and nonbinary students would not be discriminated against in schools. He also signed a bill that would require LGBTQ+ history to be included in public school curriculum and flew the Pride flag at the Capitol for the first time in the state’s history.
He has tackled issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. For instance, PrEP and PEP are now available without a doctor’s prescription. He also signed a bill that decriminalizes HIV/AIDS.
Pritzker has signed legislation that makes fertility treatment more accessible for LGBTQ+ families — including those who lost access out of state, improved language on legal documents to be more affirming to LGBTQ+ people, offered support for changing legal names and gender markers, and made it illegal to dismiss LGBTQ+ jurors on the basis of identity.
Pritzker recently enacted a law that requires nonprofit organizations to publicly disclose the demographics of their boards — a first of its kind rule that supports DEI initiatives.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro received an endorsement from the HRC in 2022 when he ran for his current position. During that election, he received more votes than Joe Biden or Donald Trump had in Pennsylvania, proving that Shapiro is someone voters might rally behind in the coveted swing state.
Josh Shapiro
Shapiro previously served the 153rd District in the state House of Representatives — where he cosponsored legislation known today as the Fairness Act, which would protect for LGBTQ+ people seeking housing, employment and other basic resources in Pennsylvania by adding sexual orientation as well as gender identity and expression to the state’s list of protected classes.
In 2013, a year after becoming the chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, he used his authority to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples at a time when marriage equality defied state law.
As state Attorney General, he co-led a coalition of interstate leaders who fought back against Trump’s attempts to eliminate protections for LGBTQ+ parents and families and filed an amicus brief in support of Gavin Grimm, a trans student in Virginia who faced discrimination.
Shapiro was later honored by Pride at Work PA — the LGBTQ+ constituency group for Pennsylvania’s chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the largest trade national trade union in the United States.
In an article about the award, Qburgh — Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ publication — explained that Shapiro opposed SB1278, a “Don’t Say Gay” law that would have affected Pennsylvania’s public schools and wants to expand hate crime laws to include protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Since becoming governor, he has urged the State Senate to confirm the Fairness Act. His transition team included over a dozen LGBTQ+ members, and he continues to value insights about how to best serve the queer community — implementing an LGBTQ+ advisory commission to guide his approach.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Tim Walz, a former teacher who also spent 24 years in the National Guard, has been an ally to LGBTQ+ people since the 90s. He supported one of his students, who is gay, and helped to form a Gay Straight Alliance at the school in 1996.
Tim Walz
During his first campaign for public service in 2005, Walz pledged to support marriage equality. He won over Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District — a district that is traditionally conservative, representing the district for 12 years (until he became the state’s governor). He was an immediate advocate for LGBTQ+ causes, signing The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act and the Sexual Orientation Employment Nondiscrimination Act and calling for an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
He first received a 90% rating by the HRC in 2007 for his pro-LGBTQ+ stances (which today is at 97%).
As governor, he banned conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults in 2021 via executive order and later signed a law that solidified the ban. Last year, he signed an executive order that affirms the rights of trans Minnesotans to receive gender-affirming healthcare and protects minors and their families who come from out-of-state to do the same. More recently, he made it illegal for libraries to ban LGBTQ+ books and content.
