Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a legendary figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, delivered a powerful and passionate speech to the LGBTQ+ Caucus at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon, urging attendees to “put on your best shit and get out there.”

Known endearingly as Miss Major, she has been a pivotal advocate for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals for decades and is often referred to as the “mother” of the movement.

Miss Major, a Black genderqueer transgender woman, has spent her life fighting for the rights and dignity of those on the margins of society, particularly transgender women of color. She participated in the Stonewall uprising in 1969, a moment often credited with sparking the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Over the years, she has been a fierce advocate for prison abolition and has worked to support transgender people, particularly those who have been incarcerated or are living with HIV and AIDS.

During her address at the caucus, Miss Major did not hold back, making clear the high stakes of the upcoming November election.

“I’m not going back. I refuse to go back. And if [Trump] thinks we’re going back, fuck him in his ass,” she declared to the applause of those in attendance. She emphasized the importance of remembering the struggles and sacrifices of those fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.

“Most importantly, remember all the people who have died in the years before this. Go home, read over this shit [Project 2025], and then get yourself together, put on your best shit and get out there,” she urged.

In an interview with The Advocate following her speech, Miss Major reflected on the significance of being at the Democratic National Convention and witnessing the embrace of the LGBTQ+ community.

“It is amazing because we haven’t had this for so many years, and to see it now in the way that I do now, it dawned on me that I’m the reason for all this shit. And so I’m really surprised at it and very happy,” she said, adding, “I can’t really put into words how I feel, but it’s joyful.”

Miss Major also spoke about the historic nature of Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination for president and the impact it could have on the future of the country and the LGBTQ+ community.

“She’s going to break this glass ceiling that there is, and after she breaks it, so many people from the bottom are going to come up and break that ceiling too,” she said. “I’m just overjoyed to think that we finally have somebody that we can believe in and trust, and that’s the important thing: that we trust her.”

When asked about the upcoming events at the United Center, where LGBTQ+ leaders like HRC President Kelley Robinson, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are set to speak, Miss Major expressed her excitement. Although she plans to watch the proceedings on TV, she noted the importance of the evening’s speeches.

“Everything is going to be so important because it shows that everybody is in agreement,” she said. “She [Harris] can do nothing wrong, so she’s got to go straight up and do that soon.”

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The Advocate is exclusively reporting that her address, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. CT, will focus on her family’s journey from enslavement to freedom and amplify the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals from Arizona, California, and Texas.

“This convention is putting on display the future we deserve: one where we all have the freedom to love who we love, be who we are, and get the chance to shine,” Robinson said. “The 20+ million LGBTQ+ people in this country are living proof of the progress we’ve already made – and there’s no way we are letting Donald Trump, JD Vance, and their Project 2025 agenda drag us back in time. Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have shown up for us their entire careers. It’s an honor to show up for them. And know this: when we show up, we win.”

The LGBTQ+ community has been front and center in this campaign, with both Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz having long histories of allyship. As a high school teacher and football coach in the 1990s, Walz led his school’s gay-straight alliance as a faculty advisor, demonstrating his commitment to creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ students. Harris, meanwhile, has been a steadfast ally for years, marrying some of the first same-sex couples as San Francisco district attorney in 2004 and refusing to defend the discriminatory Proposition 8 law as California attorney general. In 2013, she officiated the marriage of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, making them the first couple to legally wed in California after the ban on same-sex marriage was lifted. Performing same-sex weddings has been one of the highlights of Harris’s life, the vice president told The Advocate in an interview last year.

Robinson’s speech will feature the story of Daniel Trujillo, a transgender young person from Tucson, Arizona, whose advocacy efforts have been instrumental in defeating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and supporting pro-equality candidates. Trujillo’s work and his family have made them prominent champions for equality in Arizona.

The HRC president will share the story of Perry and Stier, the couple who made history by successfully challenging California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. Their legal victory was solidified when Harris officiated their marriage. Stier and Perry told The Advocate in 2023 that sharing the 10th anniversary of their love story at the vice president’s home last summer with their friend, Harris, honoring them was a tremendous experience for the civil rights leaders.

Robinson will also speak about the journey of retired Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, the first American soldier injured in the Iraq war, who played a pivotal role in the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” As a gay, disabled veteran of Hispanic and Native American heritage, Alva’s story will be on LGBTQ+ representation in the military and the broader fight for equality.

Other notable LGBTQ+ speakers slated to take the stage tonight include Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who will address the dangers of the Trump-Vance ticket and their Project 2025 agenda, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who will emphasize the contrast between the Trump-Vance vision and the Harris-Walz commitment to freedom and equality for all.

The Democratic National Convention is making history with its LGBTQ+ representation this year. Over 800 delegates identify as LGBTQ+, the largest contingent ever, including more than four dozen transgender and nonbinary delegates. According to the HRC, this surge in LGBTQ+ participation mirrors the growing influence of LGBTQ+ and allied voters nationwide, with 75 million Equality Voters, a record number poised to play a decisive role in key battleground states.

Highlighting the LGBTQ+ community in such a prominent way tonight is intentional, according to the Harris campaign.

“There’s never been a more critical time to protect the rights of all Americans, no matter who you love or who you are. Donald Trump and his extremist allies are running to roll back LGBTQ+ rights and erase history with their MAGA Project 2025 agenda.” said Democratic National Convention senior Director for Communications Matt Hill. “We know LGBTQ+ voters are a force within the Democratic coalition, and our convention stage will showcase voices so voters know that Vice President Harris, Governor Walz, and Democrats are the leaders fighting for their freedoms and their future.”

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Brandon Wolf, the national press secretary for HRC, shared his excitement with The Advocate about the convention and the organization’s ambitious plans.

“The energy is real,” Wolf said. “People really are excited, people really are hopeful, they’re feeling inspired.”

This energy, he explained, stems from the surge in enthusiasm that has gripped the Democratic Party since PresidentJoe Biden announced in July that he would not be standing for reelection, passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who has chosen Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate.

Wolf took a moment to heap praise on Biden.

“President Biden does not get enough credit for the work that he has done broadly,” Wolf said. “He’s been a remarkable president who’s gotten an immense amount of good done for the American people in a very short amount of time—pulling us out of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, putting the economy back together when it was on the brink, and advancing equality and freedom for people, especially LGBTQ+ people.”

HRC’s programming will begin with “Queering Sunday,” an event taking over Chicago’s North Halsted District — a popular LGBTQ+ neighborhood. “Everybody loves a good Sunday fun day with the LGBTQ+ community,” Wolf remarked. It will serve as a joyous kickoff to a week packed with panels, discussions, and gatherings to mobilize the LGBTQ+ community in the lead-up to November’s election, he said.

On Monday, HRC will host a creator studio at McCormick Place, where attendees can share their stories, sign up to volunteer, and pick up some exclusive Harris-Walz merchandise. According to Wolf, the studio will be a hub of activity, providing a space for attendees to engage directly with the campaign and each other.

HRC’s Monday’s LGBTQ+ convention kickoff event will feature panels with prominent voices like actors Wilson Cruz and Sophia Bush, journalists Eugene Daniels and Charlotte Clymer, influencer and author Blair Imani, and Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride, who is poised to be the first transgender person elected to Congress. The panels will explore how to engage the LGBTQ+ community digitally and what messaging is most effective in today’s charged political environment. Daniels and HRC vice president of Strategic Outreach & Engagement Nik Harris will host the conversation.

The most high-profile convention speeches will happen during the evening events at the United Center, the primary venue for the convention’s prime-time programming. Biden will speak Monday night to open the convention with a tribute to his presidency. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also address the convention on Monday.

On Tuesday night, former President Barack Obama is expected to take the stage, followed by former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday, who will deliver remarks before Walz is formally introduced as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Harris will close out the convention with her acceptance speech on Thursday night, solidifying her position as the Democratic nominee.

The convention will also feature a series of DNC Constituency Caucus and Council meetings, providing a platform for various communities to discuss and highlight critical issues. The LGBTQ+ Caucus meetings will feature prominent speakers such asMassachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Monday and McBride on Wednesday.

Tuesday brings an invitation-only event co-hosted by HRC and Planned Parenthood. This partnership, Wolf explained, is a natural fit. “For us, it’s ‘we show up’; for them, it’s ‘we decide.’ That’s kind of the message, right? We show up, and we decide what happens in this election cycle.”

Wolf said HRC’s programming will conclude with house parties organized by the organization’s more than 50 steering committees nationwide. He explained that these gatherings are more than just social events; they’re strategic efforts to build momentum and ensure that the energy generated at the convention translates into action at the polls.

Harris has a long and storied record of support for the LGBTQ+ community, which Wolf was keen to highlight. “Kamala Harris has been a champion for LGBTQ+ people for her entire career—boldly, unapologetically,” Wolf said. He recalled her early advocacy, including officiating some of the first same-sex marriages in the country in 2004 as San Francisco district attorney and refusing to defend California’s discriminatory Prop 8 as attorney general. “This is a person who’s been a champion for LGBTQ+ people throughout her career,” he emphasized.

Harris’s deep connection with the LGBTQ+ community was on full display during a Pride Month reception at the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., in June, where she hosted a celebration honoring LGBTQ+ lives and progress. At that event, Wolf introduced Harris, calling her “a leader who has always chosen to stand up for us.” Harris, in turn, spoke about the importance of remembering the struggles and sacrifices of the LGBTQ+ community while persisting in the fight for equality and justice.

A captivating aspect of Harris’s energized campaign has been her embrace of Beyoncé’s powerful anthem, “Freedom,” as her campaign theme song. The song, which has become synonymous with empowerment and resistance, was given special permission by Beyoncé herself to be used by the Harris-Walz campaign—a rare move by the superstar, known for her selective music licensing.

Wolf touched on a lighter, yet equally exciting, possibility: a rumored surprise appearance by Beyoncé at the convention. Kelley Robinson, HRC’s president, has been open about her admiration for the superstar, as she toldThe Advocate in a June interview. Robinson, a self-proclaimed “über-fan,” described how Beyoncé’s work, especially her Renaissance tour, has been a powerful celebration of Black queer culture.

“Of course, I hope Beyoncé is there,” Wolf said with a laugh. “But I also just want to say now we’re going to need medical assistance available for Kelley Robinson because she may faint if Beyoncé strolls out on stage.”

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When his surprise appearance was announced, Walz received a raucous standing ovation and cheers. Walz, the gay-straight alliance faculty adviser at the high school he taught at in the 1990s, praised the leadership and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, recognizing them as today’s civil rights leaders.

“We’re not going back,” he declared, a rallying cry that echoed throughout his speech.

It’s a core message of the Harris-Walz campaign. Walz emphasized that the upcoming election is about opposing the other side’s dark vision of America and building a more inclusive and equitable future. He stressed that rights are not a finite resource, saying, “Rights don’t work like pie. There’s enough for everybody.”

His speech, which also criticized the GOP’s restrictive policies, culminated in a call to action for the community to remain focused and energized in the campaign’s final stretch.

Following Walz’s dynamic speech, Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, chair of the Equality Caucus, took the stage and continued to rally the audience. Pocan stressed the importance of having a Democratic administration that fully supports equality and rights for all. He praised the Biden-Harris administration and the promise of the Harris-Walz ticket, noting the progress made over the past four years and the work that still lies ahead.

“We need to build on the four years we’ve had with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Pocan urged.

The meeting also featured remarks from Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who emphasized the union’s commitment to standing up for LGBTQ+ rights.

“We are not going back,” Weingarten proclaimed, leading the room in a chant. She shared her personal experience as the first out gay leader of a national union, reflecting on how far the movement has come since the days when LGBTQ+ teachers could be fired for who they are. Weingarten spoke passionately about the attacks on LGBTQ+ people being waged in some parts of the country, where teachers face censorship and discrimination for being queer.

“We are in the middle of this kind of culture war where people are trying to not only dehumanize who we are but what we respect,” she said, urging the audience to continue fighting for a future where everyone’s rights are protected.

After the caucus meeting, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson spoke with The Advocate, reflecting on the historic nature of the moment.

“To have over a thousand people in this room for the LGBTQ+ Caucus and Gov. Walz, America’s next vice president, coming in and proudly saying that he stands with the community—this is historic,” Robinson said.

She noted the significance of the Democratic Party’s embrace of the LGBTQ+ community, saying that this support is morally right and politically smart.

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