Susan Sarandon attacks Hillary Clinton’s gay rights record
The LGBT advocate has slammed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s record championing LGBT equality.
Actress and LGBT activist Susan Sarandon made a star turn at Bernie Sanders’ rally in Iowa on Thursday (January 28).
During her speech, the Thelma and Louise star called Clinton out a number of subjects – from voting for the Iraq War, taking money from Wall Street and “equivocating” on issues such as same-sex marriage.
“It’s one thing to be for gay rights and gay marriage once everybody else is for it. That’s not difficult,” she told the crowd of cheering Sanders supporters.
After her rousing speech, Sarandon – whose son Miles is identifies as genderfluid – continued her praise for the “untainted” Sanders.
“He has managed to consistently be on the right side of every issue the correct side of every issue that reflects my concerns,” she told MailOnline.
Sarandon – who has rallied for LGBT rights for over three decades – added that she thought Clinton was a “johnny-come-lately” on marriage equality.
“There’s a number of issues where she has come around but she very clearly equivocated or was not there in the beginning,” she said.
“It’s great that she came around, but wouldn’t it be great to be a leader instead of a follower, especially if you’re going to hold the highest office in the land?”
However, it would seem some disagree with Sarandon, after it was announced that the Human Rights Campaign had opted to endorse Clinton for President above the Vermont Senator last week.
The HRC’s board of 32 LGBT rights leaders voted unanimously in favour of Hillary Clinton despite her only backing same-sex marriage in 2013 – noting her ground-breaking raft of LGBT policy pledges, committing to a number of revolutionary changes.
Clinton’s plan includes 24 separate pledges across LGBT policy areas, while Sanders lists just seven specific LGBT points.
Senator Sanders campaign team were quick to hit out at the decision – claiming that HRC is colluding with “the establishment” because Sanders is a lifelong supporter of LGBT rights, and has vocally stood up for equality for a number of years.
