WASHINGTON - October 04, 2016 -

“The gains we’ve made as a society with LGBT acceptance and rights have been remarkable. As an educator, I’ve seen our school’s hallways turn into a more positive, nurturing environment for LGBT students. Mike Pence’s anti-LGBT actions are regressive for schools and depressing for all students. Pence’s message to the LGBT community is loud and clear: You are worth less. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine understand we are stronger together – and that means all Americans.” - Jaim Foster, Elementary Educator, Arlington, VA

THE FACTS:

• Mike Pence has consistently voted against anti-discrimination laws for LGBT people. He opposes both same-sex marriages and civil unions. Stunningly, he also has advocated shifting federal dollars away from LGBT organizations that fight the spread of the HIV virus and toward organizations that promote the controversial, disproven theories of “conversion therapy.” http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-pence-seems-to-have-history-of-opposing-gay-rights-2015-3http://www.politifact.com/california/statements/2016/jul/28/gavin-newsom/true-mike-pence-advocated-conversion-therapy/
  
• Mike Pence is the man behind Indiana’s controversial anti-LGBT law. The law became a nationwide controversy and symbol of regressive social change, and was opposed by the NCAA, Angie’s List and the CEO of Apple, among others, and cost Pence’s state untold millions of dollars in business development.
  http://ktla.com/2015/03/29/indiana-not-going-to-change-anti-lgbt-law-gov-mike-pence-says/

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org.

CONTACT: Richard Allen Smith, NEA Communications  202-716-6461 cell, rasmith@nea.org