WASHINGTON 鈥� Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will travel back to the nation鈥檚 capital this weekend to deliver a keynote address at the annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner.
Walz鈥檚 speech, set for Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, is expected to focus heavily on the efforts the governor has committed to advancing LGBTQ+ protections in Minnesota.
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As the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign 鈥渟trongly鈥� endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket, citing its commitments to 鈥渁dvancing equality and justice for all.鈥�
The organization has long been a supporter of Walz鈥檚 policies, and endorsed him and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to lead Minnesota in both the 2018 and 2022 elections, calling the duo 鈥渃hampions of equality.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檝e fought to ensure that Minnesota remains welcoming to all and they have consistently stood with the LGBTQ+ community, including LGBTQ+ youth, by banning 'conversion therapy鈥� in the state last year,鈥� then-Interim President Joni Madison said in June 2022. 鈥淏ecause of their leadership, the LGBTQ+ community in Minnesota is safer, healthier, and more free to be who they are.鈥�
In response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Walz committed himself in 2022 to fighting for stronger equality for all Minnesotans.
鈥淐larence Thomas鈥� Supreme Court opinion made it clear that the right-wing extremists who are eliminating reproductive rights are coming for our LGBTQ+ neighbors next,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am honored to have HRC鈥檚 support as we fight to protect and expand equality in Minnesota.鈥�
Well before the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 ruling, Walz, as a teacher at Mankato West High 歪歪漫画, served as a faculty sponsor for the school鈥檚 gay-straight alliance.
鈥淏oth Tim and Gwen [Walz] were incredibly supportive of their gay students, and they modeled values of inclusivity and respect,鈥� LGBTQ+ activist Jacob Reitan in August. 鈥淚 was bullied in high school. [Their values] helped not just me, but it also, I think, helped the bully. It showed the bully a better path forward, and I can think of no one better than Tim Walz to show that better path forward for America.鈥�
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Walz鈥檚 trip to Washington comes as he鈥檚 visited more than two dozen cities across the country since he was named as Vice President Kamala Harris鈥� running mate on Aug. 6.
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