Claire Valdez tells Hakeem Jeffries she’ll prioritize ‘Trans Bill of Rights’ when she wins NY-37 House seat in November

Valdez, who appeared on the Hell Gate Podcast alongside fellow socialist congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, was asked whether issues such as the Gaza war came up in the conversation with Jeffries as a "condition” for “supporting him as speaker” if Democrats take control of the US House.

Co-host Holly Pretsky said, “We saw the reporting that Hakeem Jeffries has reached out to you guys, and that you’ve talked with him. Is this something you talked to him about as a condition for, maybe, supporting him as Speaker should Democrats take the House back?”

Valdez replied, “We haven’t talked about — we haven’t had that kind of conversation, but I, you know, in my conversation recently I want to emphasize how important certain issues were in my district and that were defining parts of my race and that includes the war, it includes the genocide, Medicare for all, trans bill of rights, like there are a lot of things that, you know, I ran on that, I want to deliver for my district and I think it’s our responsibility to do exactly that so, you know, that’s what we’re working on.”

On Valdez’ campaign website, she vows to “fight to” pass federal-level “protections and undo federal attacks against queer and trans people, codifying the right to live a full, dignified life.” The website states, “Since returning to office, the Trump administration has launched a litany of cruel attacks on transgender people. Claire will fight to reverse every federal action that targets the transgender community and pass The Equality Act, the Transgender Health Care Access Act and a Transgender Bill of Rights to codify permanent protections into law.”

“That means guaranteeing the right to comprehensive, gender affirming medical care; the right to update any and all government documents so they accurately reflect your gender; protecting the right to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and other public facilities that align with your gender; defending the right of trans students and athletes to participate fully in school life, including sports; and ensuring that no federal agency, school, employer, or healthcare provider can use gender identity or sexual orientation as a basis for exclusion or discrimination. Trans and queer people deserve safety, respect, and full participation in public life.”