Chappell Roan recently received criticism from an interview with The Guardian, where she refused to endorse a candidate in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Roan explained in the interview, “There are so many things that I would want to change. So, I don’t feel pressured to endorse someone. There are problems on both sides. I encourage people to use your critical thinking skills, use your vote — vote small, vote for what’s going on in your city.” The change she wants to see in the U.S. this election year, she says instantly, is “trans rights. They cannot have cis people making decisions for trans people, period.”

Roan received significant backlash online, with many criticizing her for equating Republicans and Democrats on policy issues. The backlash prompted Roan to release two follow-up TikTok videos, where she clarified that she was “not voting for Trump” but refused to endorse Harris as “there is no way I can stand behind some of the left’s completely transphobic and genocidal views.” 

Israel-Hamas war aside, I think Roan’s statements ignore the Democrats’ efforts to protect queer and trans rights. 

Tim Walz and Democrats

Look no further than Governor Tim Walz, the current running mate of Kamala Harris, to find a Democrat championing queer and trans rights. 

With only a slim Democratic majority in Minnesota’s moderate state legislature, Walz advocated for a bill protecting gender-affirming care for youth and signed an executive order to put protections in place if the bill did not pass. With the support of Rep. Leigh Finke — the first transgender member of Minnesota’s state legislature — the bill passed, protecting the privacy of patients and clinicians involved in gender-affirming care. Walz unapologetically signed the bill in front of cameras, signing “love wins.” 

Walz’s actions are not unique in the Democratic party. Nationally, ⅔ of Democratically controlled states have legally protected gender-affirming care, while three-fourths of Republican-controlled states have banned it. Beyond trans healthcare, Democratic states enshrine laws protecting queer spousal rights, visitation adoption far more than Republican states. 

While there is still progress to be made, Democrats deserve credit for their efforts to defend queer and trans rights.

Republicans 

Republicans, on the other hand, often hold repugnant positions regarding trans issues. As president, Trump sought to ban trans people from entering the military. During his current presidential campaign, Trump has pledged to end gender-affirming for youth nationally, equating gender-affirming care to “child abuse” and “child sexual mutilation.” A prominent Trump campaign advertisement features the slogan “Kamala is for they/them, Trump is for you.” These views are also held by Republicans at the congressional and state level. A bill proposed by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene would criminalize “anything to do with gender-affirming care for minors.” In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is set to strip the teaching licenses of K-3 teachers who discuss gender identity and sexuality. 

These are not isolated incidents. Republicans have made it clear that they are opposed, on principle, to trans and queer rights. The contrast with Democrats could not be clearer. 

Roan’s concern for trans people is important. Transphobia remains a prevalent issue in American society, and the left should continue to combat it. And if progressives like Roan feel the Democratic party is ignoring an important issue, they have every right to lobby for it. But Chappell Roan’s statements go beyond mere critique. They ignore the hard work of Democrats across state legislatures and alienate a natural ally. 

Roan’s meteoric rise has positioned her to influence a lot of young people. Roan does not need to endorse a candidate. But if her goal is for voters to “think critically” about the election, she must equip the young people who listen to her with some basic political realities. Blue states protect queer and trans rights; red states do not.

If progressives want to continue to be treated as a serious wing in Democratic Party politics, they must celebrate Democrats when they deliver real victories on progressive issues.