Protecting Individual Rights and Freedoms

I believe the government’s job is to protect people’s rights—not take them away. Every American deserves the freedom to live their life with dignity, equality, and autonomy. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many efforts in recent years to roll back progress on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and voting access. I’m committed to standing up for these rights and making sure they are strengthened—not stripped away.

When it comes to reproductive rights, I believe that decisions about a woman’s body should be made by her—not by politicians. That’s why I will always fight to ensure women have access to safe and legal abortion services without unnecessary restrictions or interference from the government. The right to choose is deeply personal, and it must remain protected under federal law. I also oppose efforts to defund Planned Parenthood because millions of women rely on it for essential healthcare like cancer screenings, birth control, and prenatal care. Women deserve access to affordable healthcare no matter where they live or how much money they make, and I’ll work to expand funding for clinics that serve low-income and rural communities where access is often limited.

I also believe in equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans. No one should face discrimination because of who they are or whom they love—it’s that simple. But in many states, LGBTQ+ individuals can still be denied housing, employment, or public services just because of their identity. That’s unacceptable. I will fight for the passage of the Equality Act so that LGBTQ+ Americans have the same protections as everyone else under federal law. Transgender individuals deserve dignity and respect just like anyone else, and I will stand against any legislation that seeks to marginalize or target them. I also support expanding access to gender-affirming healthcare because everyone deserves the freedom to live as their true self.

Voting is the foundation of our democracy, but voter suppression efforts are making it harder for people—especially communities of color, low-income families, students, and seniors—to exercise this fundamental right. Restrictive voter ID laws, purging voter rolls, gerrymandering, and limiting polling places are all tactics designed to silence voices in our democracy. We need bold action to protect voting rights. That’s why I support automatic voter registration nationwide so that every eligible citizen is registered when they interact with government agencies like the DMV. I also believe we need expanded early voting options and that Election Day should be a federal holiday so no one has to choose between casting their ballot and going to work. And for those who’ve served their time after incarceration, I believe their voting rights should be restored—because democracy works best when everyone has a voice.

Protecting individual rights also means safeguarding freedoms like privacy in the digital age and defending freedom of speech and religion. I will fight against government overreach in surveillance programs that infringe on our privacy and oppose any attempts to weaken the separation of church and state.

At the end of the day, protecting individual rights isn’t just about preserving freedoms—it’s about ensuring that every person has an equal opportunity to thrive without fear of discrimination or interference from the government. These aren’t partisan issues—they’re fundamental American values that we all share and must uphold together.