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Overview

The CNN Equality Town Hall occurred on October 10th, 2019. The nationally-televised forum consisted of several Democratic presidential candidates, including Pete Buttigieg, Beto O'Rourke, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Cory Booker and more, fielding questions regarding their positions on numerous LGBTQ-related issues.

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Background

On October 10th, 2019, CNN and the Human Rights Campaign held CNN's Equality Town Hall.[1] Nine Democratic presidential candidates participated in the event, including Texas Representative Beto O'Rourke, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, Vice President Joe Biden, Julián Castro, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer.

Developments

Elizabeth Warren's Marriage Equality Response

Massachusettes Senator Elizabeth Warren's answer to a question about marriage equality became one of the night's biggest moments. At the event, a man asked Senator Warren what she would say to someone who said that they believe "marriage is between one man and one woman." She responded, "Well, I'm going to assume it's a guy who said that. And I'm going to say, then just marry one woman." The Senator paused for a moment and added, "Assuming you can find one."


People online began sharing the video in large numbers, sending the clip viral (examples below)

Chris Cuomo Pronouns Gaffe

Walking to the stage for an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo, Senator Kamala Harris told the audience that her pronouns were "she, her and hers." Cuomo responded, "Mine, too."

That evening, Twitter user @ddiamond posted the exchange with a transcription. The post received more than 700,000 views, 4,900 likes and 1,000 retweets in 24 hours (shown below).

Cuomo later apologized for the remark, tweeting,[3] "PLEASE READ: When Sen. Harris said her pronouns were she her and her's, I said mine too. I should not have. I apologize. I am an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I am sorry because I am committed to helping us achieve equality. Thank you for watching our townhall." The tweet received more than 9,000 likes and 870 retweets in 24 hours (shown below).


Demonstration From Black Transgender Community

During the event, a woman named Blossom C. Brown interrupted a question directed towards Congressperson Beto O'Rourke to speak to the lack of black transgender people participating in the debate.[2] She said, "Black trans women are dying. Our lives matter. I am an extraordinary black trans woman, and I deserve to be here."


Following the event, O'Rourke responded to a tweet from Brown about the vent. He said, "Blossom, thank you for making your voice heard tonight. We will hold a town hall focused on trans women of color. And I hope you’ll be there."

Joe Biden's Bathhouses Remark

At the event, following a question about racial disparities in health, he said that he would “make sure there is no ability for hospitals or healthcare providers to discriminate." Following the answers, he began speaking about stereotypes associated with gay men. He said, "Remember, Anderson? Back 15, 20 years ago, when we talked about this in San Francisco, it was all about, well, gay bathhouses."

The moment was discussed and mocked on Twitter (examples below).

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