On Thursday evening, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, will participate in events aimed at mobilizing LGBTQ+ voters and their allies. This initiative is part of the Harris-Walz campaign’s broader strategy to engage and energize voters in crucial battleground states ahead of the upcoming election.
The campaign is heavily relying on Vice President Kamala Harris’s strong advocacy for marginalized communities to drive this effort. This “10 Days of Action” campaign, organized in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Out for Harris-Walz, and Pennsylvania Democrats, seeks to boost voter turnout by focusing on “equality voters” — a demographic that includes LGBTQ+ individuals and their supporters who prioritize inclusive policies.
The kickoff rally in Philadelphia, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EDT, will feature Gwen Walz alongside out Pennsylvania State Representatives Malcolm Kenyatta and Andre Carroll, as well as HRC President Kelley Robinson. This rally marks the beginning of a series of over 160 planned actions across multiple states, which will include phone banking, canvassing, digital outreach, and community organizing.
Robinson emphasized the critical nature of this election cycle, stating, “With Election Day around the corner, the stakes are as high as ever for LGBTQ+ Americans. We deserve leaders who believe in the promise of this country and the value of our communities. Those leaders are Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.”
On Thursday evening, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, will participate in events aimed at mobilizing LGBTQ+ voters and their allies. This effort is part of the Harris-Walz campaign’s broader strategy, which heavily relies on Vice President Kamala Harris’s strong support for marginalized communities during a critical 10-day blitz to rally voters in key battleground states.
The “10 Days of Action” campaign, organized in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Out for Harris-Walz, and Pennsylvania Democrats, seeks to boost voter turnout before the high-stakes election. Kicking off with a rally in Philadelphia at 6:30 p.m. EDT, Gwen Walz will speak alongside Pennsylvania State Representatives Malcolm Kenyatta and Andre Carroll, along with HRC President Kelley Robinson. This rally is just one of over 160 planned actions across multiple states, which will include phone banking, canvassing, digital outreach, and community organizing.
As Election Day approaches, the Harris-Walz campaign is making a concerted effort to energize “equality voters,” a demographic defined by the HRC as LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies who prioritize inclusive policies when casting their ballots. Kelley Robinson emphasized the urgency of the moment, stating, “With Election Day around the corner, the stakes are as high as ever for LGBTQ+ Americans. We deserve leaders who believe in the promise of this country and the value of our communities. Those leaders are Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.”
The “10 Days of Action” follows the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Votes PAC launching a $2 million ad blitz targeting LGBTQ+ voters in battleground states, including Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Governor Walz, a former high school teacher and gay-straight alliance advisor, has a longstanding commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. His former students have praised him for his integrity and ability to create safe, supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals. Laura Matson, a founder of Mankato West High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance, noted, “He was very supportive of the group and his gay students. He made sure we had a place at the table.”
The so-called equality voters represent a critical demographic that contributed to Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. According to a 2024 HRC report, 75 million equality voters make up this crucial bloc, prioritizing equality when making decisions at the ballot box.
In the 2020 election, equality voters—defined by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies—comprised 37 percent of the electorate and delivered a remarkable 60-point margin in favor of Joe Biden. This year, their turnout is poised to be pivotal in determining outcomes in swing states. HRC is currently focused on mobilizing this demographic to ensure they show up at the polls to support pro-equality candidates.
Sam Alleman, the National LGBTQ Engagement Director for the Harris for President campaign, emphasized the necessity of a thorough outreach effort. “With so much at stake for LGBTQ+ Americans, we are not taking a single vote for granted. LGBTQ+ Americans deserve leaders who will champion our freedoms—like Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz,” he stated. He contrasted their commitment to equality with the agenda of Donald Trump and JD Vance, which he described as a regression to a “Project 2025 nightmare.” He added, “Our job is to show up for them in the same way that they have shown up for our community for decades.”
The Republican Project 2025 agenda threatens to reverse decades of progress, with proposals that could strip federal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, limit access to contraception, and enforce a national abortion ban. During his presidency, Trump’s administration enacted policies that targeted LGBTQ+ Americans, including banning transgender individuals from military service and attempting to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ workers. Advocates warn that the upcoming election could see a resurgence of these discriminatory policies, raising the stakes for LGBTQ+ voters significantly.
Thursday night’s events will conclude with a virtual Out for Harris-Walz National Organizing Call featuring Governor Walz, Kelley Robinson, and notable guests, including openly gay California U.S. Representative Robert Garcia and Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride. The Advocate has also learned that actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and host Andy Cohen will participate in the call.
The timing of this 10 Days of Action coincides with National Coming Out Day on Friday, emphasizing the importance of voting for candidates who advocate for equality. Alleman declared, “Over the next 10 days, we will knock doors, make calls, and rally communities across this country to send the clear message that when we show up, equality wins.”
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