Hillary Clinton Reaches Out to LGBT Voters

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been in the public eye for over forty years, and for nearly twenty-five of those years, she has carved out her own legacy, refusing to be a mere mention alongside her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

She served for eight years as United States Senator from New York, and then went on to represent our country abroad as our third female Secretary of State.

In the upcoming presidential election, she will face Republican nominee Donald Trump. With just weeks before Election Day, polls show Clinton and Trump in a close battle, with each candidate boasting a loyal voting base. Like in past elections, the turnout from Florida could very well decide the end result this time around.

Recently Secretary Clinton sat down with Hotspots' Mike Halterman for an exclusive interview, in which she talks about her proposed policies should she be elected, the legacy of the LGBT rights movement, and her vision for our country's future.

Thank you for participating in this interview, Madam Secretary. You've visited Florida many times this year. What are some of the things you like the most about Florida and Floridians?

Every time I visit Florida, I'm inspired by the diverse, vibrant cultures that have come together. It's a real microcosm of America. I've been so grateful for the ideas and insights Floridians have shared with me - from the brewery owners in St. Petersburg who had excellent advice on how to support small businesses to the community health providers in Miami on the front lines of the Zika epidemic. And, of course, I've been so inspired by the community of Orlando, which has shown such bravery and resilience after the tragedy at Pulse.

You had the chance to visit the Pulse makeshift memorial in Orlando this summer. What were your thoughts when you first heard of this tragedy, and how did you feel when you visited the site?

I was shocked when I heard the news, and heartbroken - for the lives cut short, for their loved ones, for the city of Orlando, for LGBT people and their allies. At the same time, I was struck by the compassion of everyone who rushed to find ways to help.

Visiting the memorial was an experience I'll never forget. Standing there, you can feel the grief of all of the people who were affected by the tragedy. You can also feel the outpouring of love and support from a community that refuses to be defined by hate. It's moving and inspiring.

Florida is primarily a tourism economy. Under your economic plan, how will the standard of living be improved for Floridians, especially those who work in tourism and the service industry?

Anyone who is willing to work hard should be able to find a job that pays well enough to raise a family - a job that provides dignity, pride, and a bright future. So we're going to raise the minimum wage, strengthen overtime rules, and ensure that workers are treated fairly. We're also going to bring our policies in line with the way families in Florida and across the country actually live and work today. Equal pay, paid family leave, predictable scheduling, earned sick days - these aren't luxuries, they're economic necessities.

Please outline which steps you would take to improve the lives of LGBT Floridians and other LGBT Americans in your first term, should you be elected.

I'll continue President Obama's executive actions on LGBT equality. I'll also work with Congress to pass the Equality Act, to finally guarantee full federal equality for LGBT Americans. I'll fight to end the cruel, dangerous practice of so-called "conversion therapy" - LGBT kids don't need to be "cured" of anything. I'll also ensure that LGBT elders have the support they deserve. And we'll protect the right of transgender Americans to live safely as themselves - from taking on the crisis of violence against transgender women of color to making it easier for official documents to reflect your true gender.

What was your "evolution" like on the topic of LGBT rights? How do you see LGBT people and think of LGBT rights now compared to years past?

My views have been shaped by people I know and love. Two of my parents' closest friends in Little Rock were their next-door neighbors, Dillard and Larry. They visited my father in the hospital at the end of his life.

They're a loving and committed couple. And I came to realize just how deep an injustice it was that they couldn't be legally married. Dillard and Larry helped shape my views. I'm grateful to the advocates, families and friends who never stopped insisting that what's right is right. They helped change my mind, and I'm very glad they did.

How do you envision your future administration's legacy with regard to LGBT rights, and how do you wish to shape the future of the LGBT movement?

There are still too many places where LGBT Americans are targeted for harassment and violence. Too many young people still feel hopeless and alone. As president, I'll do everything I can to protect the progress we've made, build on it, and make it real for LGBT people in every corner of our country, so no one is left behind. I want future generations of LGBT people to grow up knowing, without a doubt, that they are equal in the eyes of the law and in the hearts and minds of their fellow Americans.

Climate change is a very real issue that state leaders in Florida have not taken seriously. As president, how would you influence the national discussion on this topic, and what policies would your administration have to combat climate change?

Climate change is a very real threat, and I refuse to allow our country to move backwards from the progress we've made combatting this issue. To start, my Administration will take drastic steps, cutting emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. We will launch a $60 billion Clean Energy Challenge, providing our communities the resources to cut carbon pollution and expand clean energy. We will invest in our clean energy infrastructure and will defend our smart pollution and efficiency standards. We will also commit to cutting methane emissions by 40-45 percent over the next ten years.

Many members of our community will be voting for you, but others may still be apprehensive. In short, what would you say to those people to convince them to vote for you?

The stakes have never been higher for the LGBT community than they are right now. Donald Trump would appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn marriage equality, and he's chosen a running mate who tried to write discrimination into Indiana's laws as governor and said that marriage equality could bring about "societal collapse." If I'm elected, LGBT Americans will always have a champion and an ally in the White House. But I can't do it without you. I'm going to work hard to earn every vote - I'm not taking anything for granted!

We know a lot about your professional side, but when you have the chance to unwind, what do you like to do? What would your "dream day" be like?

Lots of uninterrupted time with my family - especially my grandchildren, Charlotte and Aidan. FaceTime is a wonderful invention, but sometimes a grandparent needs the real deal!

Which books have been on your reading list recently? Also, have you had the time to take in a movie or play?

These days, I have an ever-growing reading list and not much time to read for fun! When I have time in between campaign stops and reading briefing papers, I like to relax by reading mystery novels. As for other entertainment, the Hamilton soundtrack has been on "nonstop" since I saw it in New York!

Finally, what would your parting message be for our readers?

Keep fighting - I'm with you.

We've come so far from the days of Stonewall. But as Floridians know, we still have our work cut out for us. I know it can feel discouraging. But I'm inspired by your efforts to make our country fairer and more equal - whether you're organizing in your community or simply living openly. And I'll proudly fight alongside the LGBT community in Florida and every state to make sure that every American can live up to their full potential, no matter who you are or who you love.

To find out more about the Hillary Clinton campaign, visit hillaryclinton.com. "Like" her on Facebook for real-time updates from the campaign trail at facebook.com/hillaryclinton.

Hotspots reached out to the Trump campaign multiple times via e-mail in order to extend him the same courtesy we extended to Secy. Clinton. We did not receive a response as of press time.