Jim Obergefell: GOP “does not consider us human”
Marriage equality plaintiff stresses importance of electing pro-LGBT Democrats at all levels of government
“Our status as equal Americans is at stake because the GOP clearly does not consider us human.”
—Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the case that legalized marriage equality nationwide, speaking with The Huffington Post‘s Alex Berg in a video interview at an Equality Forum event in Philadelphia. Obergefell, who is in Philadelphia to attend the Democratic National Convention, tried to warn supporters of the LGBT community that this year’s election could put advances in equality at risk.
“They don’t consider us worthy of really anything, and if we don’t fight against that and if we don’t get our family, our friends, our allies to stand with us and to fight against that, I’m scared about what the future holds for us,” Obergefell said of the GOP, noting that they have adopted a party platform that is blatantly hostile to LGBT rights.
While Obergefell said “everyone should vote their conscience,” he warned those Democrats who have not yet embraced Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton that they should consider the consequences of refusing to vote, voting for a third-party candidate, or voting for Republican nominee Donald Trump this November. He also stressed the importance of electing champions of LGBT equality in down-ticket races as well.
“We have got to have a Democrat in the White House and we have got to make sure every election, not just presidential, but every local, state election, we’re out there voting for the progressives,” Obergefell said. For the candidates who actually stand for ‘We the People’ and fight for all of us.”
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