Did Hillary Clinton Refuse To Lead Gay Rights Movement? Presidential Candidate Receives First LGBT Endorsement

While she is very opinionated about the issues plaguing the gay community nowadays, in the past Hillary Clinton was hesitant about being associated with the gay rights movement. In an article published Monday by the Washington Post, a friend of the presidential candidate recalled the time where Clinton had the opportunity to lead the gay rights movement but refused.

Hilary Rosen reflected on Clinton’s first run for president in 2008, a time in which she was challenged by her friend to speak out for the community that was strongly supporting her during a forum on the LGBT focused network LOGO.

Rosen said Clinton told her, “I’m struggling with how we can support this with a religious and family context.” Rosen, who is a political consultant and a member of the gay community, took it personal at the time, but the two remain friends.

Clinton is singing a different tune in 2016. Not only has her campaign embraced the LGBT community and avidily supported gay marriage, but she is also the first presidential candidate to hire an openly gay campaign manager. Her support of the the gay community comes nearly two decades after husband, Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage for federal government purposes as between one man and one woman, into law.

Clinton recently welcomed an endorsement from gay and lesbian business leaders, according to NBC News. The co-founder and CEO of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Chance Mitchell has put the presidential candidate on a pedestal for her work in the LGBT business community.

In response, Clinton graciously accepted the endorsement. She said, "I am honored to have earned the first-ever endorsement of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce." NBC News reported that the NGLCC is a global advocacy organization that has been around for nearly 15 years with the goal to expand economic opportunities for the LGBTQ community.

On Clinton’s website, she states that if elected president she will continue President Barack Obama’s executive actions for LGBT equality and protect people from discrimination based on their gender identity and sexual orientation.