[1678] Parliamentary Campaign Thread

[Alfonso Velez]

VELEZ STATEMENT TO THE PUNTA SANTIAGO PRIDE PARADE

Good Morning friends! It's an honour to be here today as we celebrate another year of greater freedoms for all LGBTQ+ persons in our great Republic. I'm proud of the work that the Liberty & Democracy party has done on this front--and I'm also proud to be the first openly gay Prime Minister of Alduria. Friends, make sure that each and every one of you vote in this election. Make sure your friends and family vote. Ask everyone you know if they've registered to vote. Ask people who needs transportation to the polls on election day.

It's easy to take the liberties that we've fought for and won for granted, but even though the battles have been won, we must remain vigilant. Already we've heard from Mr. Paredes and the Aldurian National Alliance that, if they're elected, they will tear down these freedoms and institute policies that erode the most basic of human liberties--the right to love who we love regardless of their gender. My friends, vote like your liberty depends on it--because in this election, it does. We must fight against the ANA and their transphobic legislation. We must fight against this attack on our civil liberties. To do that, we need your support so that the Liberty & Democracy party can stand for everyone's liberty while protecting our democracy.

Let me also say this: we stand for liberty for all. To people like Mr. Paredes who think that marriage should only be between a man and a woman I say this. I respect your right to have that opinion. I will fight to my last breath to protect your right to express your view and to chose who people of faith will marry in their churches. We will never impose our social beliefs on the Republic and force people of differing beliefs to not follow their hearts and conscience so long as that action does not take away another's right to life or liberty. That is the important distinction between our beliefs and platforms. The L&D stands for freedom for all--even, and perhaps even especially, for those voices who stand against us. We will never impose our beliefs on others--but will always allow people to make their own choices. Mr. Paredes' agenda is the complete opposite. He seeks to impose his morality on the whole of the Republic. He seeks to prevent two people who love each other from getting married because of their gender. It is an assault on our liberty, it is an affront to the protections enshrined in the Constitution, and it must not stand. The Liberty & Democracy party will continue to lead the fight against forces from any side that might seek to erode the liberties of all the citizens of this Republic.

My friends, we can't do this without your help. Please show up to the polls on election day and cast your vote to protect the rights of all people to love and live their lives according to their hearts and their conscience. Vote for the Liberty & Democracy party. Thank you all!