And we’re off to the races.
On Sunday, Hillary Clinton finally confirmed the announcement that has been years in the running: She’s making another bid for the White House in 2016. To announce her candidacy, Clinton released a video capturing Americans of all stripes talking about the new chapters of their lives — building up to her own declaration that her next phase includes a presidential run.
Right off the bat, Clinton showcased her support for the LGBT community, as the video showcases two same-sex couples, one of whom is depicted walking down the street, with one describing how he’s preparing to marry his partner. Granted, the video does a very noticeably good job of highlighting Americans from seemingly every demographic group possible, but that it specifically points to a same-sex couple marrying — alongside people talking about making career changes, having a baby, retiring — speaks volumes, suggesting that two men marrying should be just as commonplace as the other life changes detailed in the video.
The video marks unprecedented visibility for the LGBT community in presidential politics, a process that is continuing to evolve — and each win for visibility that we can claim will doubtlessly lead to more victories. When President Obama in 2012 became the first sitting president to declare his support for same-sex marriage, he set the bar for future Democratic presidents. That first step was taken and, as public opinion on marriage equality rapidly changes across the country, any future Democratic head of state would be expected to support marriage equality.
Now that Clinton has so pointedly declared her support for the LGBT community, that too sets up expectations — both for her and for other candidates.
Clinton caught the attention of LGBT voters who will now expect her to follow through on that symbolic support with action, if elected. And, especially if her campaign is successful, it could set the stage for LGBT inclusion and visibility in future presidential campaigns.
The 2016 election is still quite a long way away. But, if the fevered response to Clinton’s campaign announcement is any indication, it’s sure to be a historic election season for the LGBT community.