Kenyan McDuffie, a former D.C. Council member running for mayor as Muriel Bowser's third term ends, is positioning himself as a fierce defender of LGBTQ rights in an increasingly hostile federal climate. Speaking with the Washington Blade on June 8, McDuffie emphasized his record of supporting the community and outlined how he would confront the Trump administration on civil rights issues.
A Record of Advocacy
McDuffie highlighted his 13 and a half years on the Council, during which he authored transformational civil rights legislation, increased police transparency, and crafted the landmark NEAR Act, a 2016 law aimed at reducing violent crime. He also pointed to his earlier work as a civil rights attorney in President Barack Obama's Department of Justice, where he traveled the country fighting to protect people's civil rights. That background, he said, informs his commitment to D.C. residents.
Standing Up to Federal Overreach
When asked how he would differ from Mayor Bowser, who some in the LGBTQ community have criticized for not forcefully enough opposing the Trump administration, McDuffie promised to fight back immediately. He pledged that on day one as mayor, he would rescind the executive order permitting cooperation between the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. He vowed to use every legal and political tool available to resist federal efforts to roll back LGBTQ protections in the district.
A Vision for an Inclusive D.C.
McDuffie described Washington, D.C. as one of America's most inclusive cities because generations of LGBTQ residents, advocates, and organizations have fought to make it that way. As mayor, he said, he would ensure the district remains a place where LGBTQ residents can live safely, access quality healthcare and housing, build families and businesses, and thrive. He also committed to governing with the queer community at the table, centering their contributions to the city in every decision.
The Democratic primary is set for Tuesday, June 16, with McDuffie currently polling in second place behind Council member Janeese Lewis George in a crowded field.
Source: Washington Blade
Cover photo: District of Columbia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
