Since President Joe Biden announced he was no longer running for re-election on Sunday, July 21, there have been significant gatherings dedicated to supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. The first was a Zoom call for Black women voters, with an estimated 40,000 participants who raised over $1 million on Sunday. The following day, “Win with Black Men” hosted their Zoom call, drawing in 50,000 participants and raising over $1.3 million.
Last night, the “Answer the Call” Zoom call encouraged white women to show up for the campaign. The call, which featured celebrities like Glennon Doyle, Pink and Connie Britton, along with officials and activists, broke Zoom’s record for the largest call in history, with over 136,000 attendees.
Overlapping with “Answer the Call” was “Out for Kamala Harris,” hosted by the Human Rights Campaign. HRC, which endorsed Harris early on, hosted a lineup of LGBTQ+ celebrities and advocates, as well as allies, bringing in around 20,000 participants between its Zoom and YouTube streams. The participants raised $300,000 in campaign donations and 1,500 volunteer sign-ups during the two-and-a-half-hour event.
The event kicked off with a welcome message from HRC President Kelley Robinson, who immediately brought enthusiasm and messages of hope to the call.
“There are two different futures for our country,” said Robinson, regarding the choice between Harris and Donald Trump.
Robison also thanked Biden for his selfless act and for his longtime advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community – a sentiment that was echoed by many on the call.
MCs Brandon Wolf and Nic Harris hosted representatives from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, political candidates and serving officials including Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, and celebrities including George Takei, Zachary Quinto, Sophia Bush, Ashlyn Harris, Raven-Symoné and Jenna Lyons. Guest Justin Trantor, songwriter and co-writer for Chappell Roan’s hit “Good Luck Babe,” pledged $20,000 to Harris’ campaign on the call.
Takei, along with his husband Brad, shared his enthusiasm for Harris and said it offers “strength, optimism and joy.”
“She is going to be a history maker,” said Takei.
Actor, activist and chair of GLSEN’s board of directors, Wilson Cruz, surprised the hosts when he appeared live in the studio to show his support for Harris. Cruz emphasized that Harris always has the LGBTQ+ community in mind, discussing our rights in “rooms we aren’t in.”
Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts, the country’s first out lesbian governor, shared how inspired she was as a fellow Attorney General by Harris’ refusal to defend California’s Prop 8 and support of LGBTQ+ issues.
After messages of hope from dozens of guests, the call ended with recorded messages from Lynda Carter, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Rep. Mark Takano, urging participants to donate, volunteer and get out and vote for Harris.
To watch the “Out for Kamala Harris” recording, visit HRC’s YouTube channel.