FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Contact: Cathy Renna, Communications Director, National LGBTQ Task Force, 917-757-6123, [email protected]
Voters Chose Democracy — LGBTQ People and Our Allies Deliver Mandate for Affordability, Democracy, and Care
“Voters made it clear they want a government that listens and puts the issues impacting them before anything else. Today we begin the work to move forward a justice and equity agenda”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following Tuesday’s midterm elections, in which voters in Missouri defeated Amendment 3, an anti-LGBTQ and anti-reproductive freedom ballot initiative, and equality candidates regained majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, National LGBTQ Task Force President Kierra Johnson issued the following statement:
“Since the start of early voting, voters across this country sent a clear message: Democracy is worth fighting for. Equity is a non-negotiable for people of color, women, immigrants, queer people and trans people. The lives of Americans – any American – are not a wedge issue, and lived equality should never be put up for vote. 89% of voters said that the cost the living influenced how they showed up at the ballot box.
In Missouri, voters looked at Amendment 3 — a measure designed to strip essential health care protections from transgender youth, LGBTQ families and abortion rights — and said no. That victory belongs to the organizers, faith leaders, parents, young people, and trans and nonbinary community members who knocked doors, made calls, told their stories, and refused to let fearmongering win. When people get to know us, they choose fairness.
But we are not naive. We know that many voters still are uninformed and unprepared to make decisions about our trans siblings. Too few Americans have met a transgender person and were bombarded by negative media and misinformation-filled ads about trans people. In Arizona voters passed Proposition 318, a K-12 sports ban for trans girls which will subject all girls to invasive physical exams to confirm their sex. And in Nebraska, Initiative 442 another school sports ban passed by over 2/3 of the vote. In WA and CO, votes are still being counted.
That being said, we have a lot of work ahead – for the long haul – and we are committed to doing it. We all must continue to focus on public education, sharing our stories, experiences, and values that we truly stand for as trans people and allies. We will need the support of our community, funders, and pro-equality lawmakers to keep moving us forward.
We applaud the candidates who refused to be swayed by attacks on transgender people; and we commit to having the hard, principled struggle conversations with elected officials of all parties who used our communities as wedge issues and political pawns.
Nationally, voters have elected to both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives leaders who have the opportunity — and the obligation — to stop the relentless attacks our communities have endured. We also witnessed history making candidates elected. Governors, Senators, Mayors, State Representatives, and countless other positions have the voters to thank for their trust and the opportunity to show up in ways that serve the people. Moreover, the power of Black and Brown voters was showcased in every way. From coast to coast, millions of voters cast votes for pro-equality lawmakers and initiatives.
For the past two years, the ability to feed our families, access healthcare, voting rights and more have been under attack. For our community and our allies, many hands lighten the load. We must continue to advocate for change and hold elected officials accountable with the demand that they deliver on their promises.
So many everyday Americans who are working hard to make ends meet have been targeted by policies that threatened our health care, our safety, our families, and our right to simply exist in public life. Voters rejected that agenda and expect results.
But let us be clear: an election is a starting line, not the finish line, not by any means. We will hold this new Congress accountable from day one, and we are heading into districts and states with our anchor partners. We expect lawmakers at all levels of government and on both sides of the aisle to use their power to provide real oversight, to block harmful legislation, and to advance policies that protect access to health care, housing, good jobs, and full participation in our democracy.
We can and must fight for change and justice – we can do both.
To every LGBTQ person who has felt exhausted, afraid, or alone these past two years: you are not alone. Last night proved that we are a powerful community, and that our allies are with us. Take a breath. Celebrate. And then let’s get back to work — because the freedom we are building is for all of us.”
The Task Force mobilized people and educated the public this election cycle through its Queer the Vote campaign, collaborated with partner organizations working on the ground and played a role in coalitions across movements and issues. We will continue working alongside state and local partners to defend against anti-democracy, anti-equality policies, and ballot measures while working to build lasting power rooted in economic justice, care, and strengthening our democracy.
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About the National LGBTQ Task Force
The National LGBTQ Task Force builds power, takes action, and creates change to achieve freedom, justice, and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. As the progressive voice of the LGBTQ movement and the LGBTQ voice of the progressive movement, the National LGBTQ Task Force organizes people and money in pursuit of liberation for all.
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