The DA Global Presidential Primary (GPP) took place between March 5th (Super Tuesday) and March 12th. Voting Centers were set up in nearly 100 locations in 44 countries. Members voted for their preferred nominee for President, either in person at a Voting Center or remotely. DA members voted from a total of 109 countries.
The results:
President Joe Biden received 80.14% of the vote and earned 13 pledged delegates to the Democratic Convention
Marianne Williamson received 6.68% but did not earn any delegates
A further 1,136 voters (13.18%) chose 'Uncommitted,' earning no uncommitted delegates
There are still primaries upcoming in many states and you are encouraged to vote in those contests for offices other than President. We've highlighted several important races in our candidate profiles, but every race is important, whether it's a local school board membership, a state legislature seat or a seat in the House of Representatives or the US Senate. You can learn about many races using Ballotpedia.
Please remember to register and file a ballot request as an overseas voter on Vote from Abroad.
Super Tuesday Takeaways for LGBT Candidates and Voters were many
There were notable wins in both red and blue states, with Texas moving toward sending a lesbian to Congress, Burlington, Vt., electing a lesbian mayor and wins for Congress and state senate candidates in California
Read about just a few of the many LGBTQ+ election wins in 2024 primaries on our Candidates Spotlight page.
Among the many topics President Biden included in his 2024 State of the Union address was support for transgender Americans, saying
“I want to protect other fundamental rights! Pass the Equality Act and my message to transgender Americans: I have your back!” (Watch from 1:28:00 - 1:30:00)
Additional comments on the State of the Union from LGBT media sources:
Gender-Affirming Care
Many states have either adopted or are considering legislation that may restrict of completely deny care to nonbinary or transgender youth event with parental consent.
Advocates of these restrictions tend to omit the fact that denying such care is not limited to people who identify as Queer.
Many who support these limitations speak of protecting young people from the consequences of undergoing treatments that they typically describe as 'irreversible.' This is misleading; a substantial majority of younger people who identify as transgender are only treated with puberty blockers and hormones, which are completely reversible. Surgical treatment is not normally offered to minors.
It is also commonplace to undergo a waiting period before any surgical treatment can be carried out, supported by counseling.
Intersex
Intersex people number about 1.7% of the population. They are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy. Some of these differences are visible from birth while others are only evident on reaching puberty or later in life.
Intersex individuals have historically been subjected to involuntary surgery to remove or alter organs related that typically determine the assignment of gender. These surgeries are typically performed on infants before they are 2 years old.
Frequently asked questions about intersex may be useful in better understanding intersex and related issues.
With our community under attack on so many fronts, it’s hard to know where to look first. The resources below include our country’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy and support groups. Between them, they offer a comprehensive view of the state of our rights, candidates to watch, and legislation and lawsuits to follow nationwide.
They all deserve our support. But please don’t forget that Democrats Abroad gets out the vote in races all across the country. Your contribution helps us reach voters to deliver election-swinging ballots everywhere they’re needed.
For the first time ever, the HRC officially declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States. They offer a state-by-state guide to the state of LGBTQ+ rights in America.
A s a national umbrella, Equality Federation brings together state-based grassroots advocacy organizations. They provide a State Legislation Tracker and member directory to find your state-level organization.
For many years, Immigration Equality fought for our right to live our country with our foreign partners. Today, they continue to promote justice and equality for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants.
The only national organization devoted to electing pro-equality, pro-choice LGBTQ+ leaders to public office at every level. You’ll find a comprehensive guide to candidates, many of whom we hope to spotlight in upcoming issues and DA events.
GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE
US Department of Health and Human Services
The linked brief provides basic definitions and explains why this type of care is so critical to the well-being of transgender and and nonbinary youth.
AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges)
A useful overview of the different types of treatment available, the need for them and their impact.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has an overview of the facts and issues affecting transgender and non-binary people.
INTERSEX
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) provides and overview to better understand the Intersex community.
Every Body is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of three intersex individuals and their experiences from childhoods filled with secrecy and shame to thriving adulthood
LAWSUITS
Since 1973, Lambda Legal’s lawyers have been winning precedent-setting civil rights cases on everything from marriage equality to expressions of gender identity to health care discrimination. Their website has all the latest news on pending cases across the country.