Major supported Kamala Harris for president.
On Sunday, the Stonewall veteran and activist announced on Instagram that he was endorsing Harris’ campaign, given her long record of pro-LGBTQ+ support, including her current work in the Biden administration and her previous work as a prosecutor in California.
“Kamala Harris’ record clearly demonstrates her commitment to increasing the availability of federal services to transgender people,” the post states. “This has been accomplished by establishing a pathway to retirement savings, streamlining the employment discrimination complaint process, removing barriers to receiving federal student aid, and modernizing the White House office visitor admissions system.”
For the past 50 years, Major has advocated for incarcerated transgender people, particularly trans women of color who, like herself, are often held in men’s prisons. Major worked for several HIV and AIDS organizations and served as the founding executive director of the Transgender, Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project, a role she held until her retirement in 2015.
The activist’s post cited actions that solidify Harris’ commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, including legislation to prevent discrimination in the workplace and protect marriage equality. The administration also “allowed Miss Major and other Americans to select ‘X’ as the gender mark on their passports, ensuring transgender and non-binary Americans have access to accurate and affirmative identification.”
“Vice President Kamala Harris has long been a strong advocate for TLGBQI+ equality,” the post continues. “She has shown her support by leading efforts against hate crimes in San Francisco and working to end the so-called gay and transgender ‘panic defense’ in California. Harris has consistently supported marriage equality and continues to advocate for the TLGBQI+ community as Vice President.”
“A Harris Administration will maintain and expand the protections for transgender Americans established by the Biden Administration,” the statement concluded. “Her leadership is committed to strengthening and elevating efforts to address and meet the needs of transgender people and ensure continued progress in our nation’s civil rights and transgender rights history.”
