UNF is one of the top schools for LGBT students, and continuously supports bills like the expanded Human Rights Ordinance, which was presented last Spring by Jacksonville city councilman Tommy Hazouri.

The Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination on housing, employment, and business. Hazouri’s bill would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of the current ordinance, and though it did not pass, UNF continues to show support for the LGBT community through our LGBT Resource Center.

We at Spinnaker felt that a school that shows this kind of consistent support for the LGBT community should know where their presidential candidates stand with LGBT rights.

Donald Trump:

While Trump, the Republican nominee, does not have any stated policy for LGBT rights on his website, he has made comments regarding his beliefs in multiple speeches.

“Our nation stands together in solidarity with the members of Orlando’s LGBT community,” Trump said at a speech in Manchester, New Hampshire. “Ask yourself, who is really the friend of women and the LGBT community, Donald Trump with his actions, or Hillary Clinton with her words?”

During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer Trump again mentioned his solidarity towards the LGBT community.

“As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. Believe me,” Trump said.

Despite these comments, the history of the Republican Party has been against marriage equality. Trump has openly stated he does not support nationwide marriage equality and when prompted, he said he would “strongly consider” appointing judges that would want to overturn same-sex marriage.

Hillary Clinton:

Clinton presents a comprehensive list of actions she plans to take for the LGBT community if elected president:

1. Fight for full federal equality for LGBT Americans
2. Support LGBT youth, parents, and elders
3. Honor the military service of LGBT people
4. Fight for an AIDS-free generation
5. Protect transgender rights
6. Promote human rights of LGBT people around the world

“There are still too many places where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are targeted for harassment and violence. There are still too many young people out there feeling hopeless and alone,” Clinton said at a Human Rights Campaign in Washington D.C. last year.

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