This page highlights some of Saddam’s priorities on this issue and is not a full list of his positions. Have a question or idea we haven’t covered? Get in touch with us HERE.

Senator Salim believes that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights, and that equality must be more than words; it must be protected in every part of American life. Discrimination against queer and trans people continues to cause real harm, especially for young people who face higher rates of homelessness, incarceration, and mental health struggles. Senator Salim knows this injustice begins early, and he is committed to fighting intolerance and building a country where every person can live, learn, and work with safety and dignity.

That’s why he supports the Equality Act, federal legislation that would finally prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. He believes LGBTQIA+ students deserve safe schools, and transgender people in our military must have the freedom to serve openly without it harming their career. Access to healthcare must be free from bias and rooted in compassion. These should not be privileges. They are fundamental rights.

Saddam is particularly focused on protecting transgender women of color, who have faced unconscionably high rates of violence and systemic neglect. He is committed to expanding housing, job, and educational opportunities for trans and queer people of color, while fighting against discrimination in healthcare, housing, and public spaces. He believes in affirming and empowering communities that have too often been silenced—and in ensuring that equality means everyone, without exception.

Finally, Senator Salim is dedicated to ending the criminalization of LGBTQIA+ identities. He will work to stop over-policing, incarceration, and mistreatment of queer and trans individuals, especially those who are Black, Brown, or Indigenous. In Congress, he will expand affirming housing and healthcare, push for policies that ensure dignity and safety for incarcerated transgender people, and uphold one simple truth: no one should ever be punished, targeted, or made unsafe simply for being who they are.