I’m a states-rights person, but if all the other minorities are getting that protection, hell, I want them too.”Īnaise Hernandez is also holding out hope for federal protections for the community under Trump, pointing to the president-elect's 2000 interview with The Advocate, where he said, “I like the idea of amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation. “That hasn’t been a priority on the Republican side or on the Democrat side. “I would love for the LGBT community to be in the same federally protected statute as race, religion and nationality,” Vincent Foster said. Currently, there are no federal protections-leaving the community vulnerable to blatant discrimination in public accommodations across the nation. While Trump’s 100-day plan did not specifically refer to any LGBTQ-oriented policies, his gay and lesbian supporters expressed hopes that his administration would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in order to ensure LGBTQ Americans are protected from discrimination. Susan Walsh / APįor Joseph Murray, the methodology of the Obama administration was a problem-and he’s happy to see some of those orders overturned. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the Brady press briefing room at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. That could mean overturning some of the LGBTQ equality orders, such as protecting transgender people as an equal class under Department of Education (DOE) and Health and Human Services (HHS) policy. “Pence had already evolved as he amended his freedom of religion act in Indiana.”ĭemocratic LGBTQ voters have been blanketing social media-and the phone lines at national organizations like Human Rights Campaign-with fears about Trump’s "100-day action plan." In the plan, also called the “ Contract With the American Voter,” Trump states his intention of overturning Obama’s executive orders and memorandums. “If Pence begins to change discrimination laws protecting the LGBT community, I will be one of the people front row to come out and ensure the LGBT community is not harmed,” Hernandez added. He also expressed faith in Pence’s ability to transform: “Who's to say he won't evolve just like the Democrats did?” Juan Hernandez suggested that Trump’s more LGBTQ-friendly leanings could be a shield against Pence’s apparent vitriol. I believe Trump will continue to support us though.” “I feel like we should be more concerned with Pence and his motives against the LGBT community. “I hope they won't treat us as outcasts and will support us as they do everyone else,” 29-year-old lesbian Alyx Perna of Mississippi told NBC OUT. Vice President-elect Mike Pence arrives at Trump Tower, Novemin New York City. While all of the LGBTQ Trump voters interviewed for this story expressed faith in Trump’s interest in protecting the community, some cited insecurities around Vice President-elect Mike Pence, the Indiana governor whose r eputation was largely built on anti-LGBTQ policies and the fight against marriage equality. Most also emphasized that they were less concerned with the LGBTQ-related aspects of the Trump platform than they were with general issues like national security, economy, and the right to bear arms. When asked why they voted for Trump and what they hoped his incoming administration would do to benefit the LGBTQ community, many of these voters echoed each other in their hopes for the future. Vice president-elect Mike Pence and Republican president-elect Donald Trump shake hands during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of Novemin New York City. They all have one thing in common: They believe that Donald Trump is the best choice for president of the United States. They live in Mississippi, Florida, California, New Jersey and the Midwest. They range in age from just 19 to nearly 40. NBC OUT spoke with several gay and lesbian Trump supporters who, together, form a surprisingly diverse sampling of Republican voters. As the shock of Donald Trump’s election victory sinks in, though, many may wonder-just who are the 14 percent of LGBTQ voters who support the Trump-Pence administration? 8, with 78 percent of the community voting for the Democratic candidate. Exit polls show that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender voters overwhelming sided with Hillary Clinton on Nov.