10 Questions the Candidates Must Answer at The Advocate's LGBTQ Forum

The Advocate polled its readers for the topics they want addressed.

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This Friday, 10 Democratic presidential candidates will take the stage at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to lay out exactly how they plan to fight for LGBTQ lives if elected president.

In order to clarify these plans, The Advocate asked its followers on social media for the questions they wanted to be answered from the candidates -- from protecting trans lives to passing the Equality Act.

See a collection of the questions below, leave your own in the comments, and don't miss Friday's YouTube livestream of the LGBTQ Forum, which will be cohosted with GLAAD, One Iowa, and The Gazette.

A Constitutional Amendment

Tim Smith, on Facebook, asks, "Are you willing to create a constitutional amendment that protects LGBTQ people from all forms of discrimination?

"Religious Freedom" v. "License to Discriminate"

\u201c@TheAdvocateMag @TheAdvocateMag What is their viewpoint on the Religious Freedom to Discriminate against those based on Sex as it is up for arguments in the Supreme Court this October, 8th? (Gender Identity and Orientation.) How will a candidate ensure our Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects all?\u201d
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568660261

The Supreme Court, Statehood, and the Filibuster

None
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568660261

Joe Biden's LGBTQ Legacy

\u201c@TheAdvocateMag Biden voted for DOMA and DADT when many other senators voted against it. Why should we support him now, when his actions destroyed lives and families and still have a lingering impact on us?\u201d
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568660261

Protecting LGBTQ Youth and Fighting Conversion Therapy

\u201c@TheAdvocateMag How are you going to ensure that LGBTQIA youth are armed with accurate, empowering information to keep them safe from STIs, homophobia, and destructive 'conversion therapy'?\u201d
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568742798

Violence Against Trans Women of Color

\u201c@TheAdvocateMag how will you make it safer for our LGBTQ community especially for trans women of colour\u201d
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568742798

\u201c@TheAdvocateMag Missing and murdered indigenous women is already a huge problem, however for trans indigenous women, the problem is catastrophic. How would you bring light to and combat this crisis?\u201d
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568742798

Employment Discrimination

\u201c@TheAdvocateMag Not all LGBTQ+ people look like Pete and his husband, for those that are either one or more of the following: a POC, disabled, or homeless - how would you ensure that they will be treated with the same respect as someone who is straight, white, and abled when seeking employment?\u201d
— The Advocate (@The Advocate) 1568742798

Equality