Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) blasted Republicans anti-LGBTQ+ policies in particular, their book-banning crusade and vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vances (R-OH) recent line about school shootings being a fact of life during his keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner on Saturday night.Referencing GOP book bans against works like And Tango Makes Three, a childrens book about a penguin chick being raised by two male penguins, Walz said, This is what these folks are focusing on. Like reading about two male penguins who love each other is somehow going to turn your children gay, and thats what you should worry about. Related Donald Trump should be very worried going up against Kamala Harris in a debate In debates, Harris put Mike Pence in his place and even eviscerated Joe Biden. Trumps antics wont work against her. But heres what Ill tell you, he continued. Its a fact of life some people are gay, but you know whats not a fact of life? That our children get shot dead in schools. Thats not a fact of life. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today His line referenced Vance calling school shootings an unfortunate fact of life after a school shooter in Georgia killed four people and injured nine others. Walz: This is what these folks are focusing on. Like reading about about two male penguins who love each other is somehow going to turn your children gay Its a fact of life some people are gay, but you know whats not a fact of life? That our children get shot dead in schools. pic.twitter.com/tFAXOMkZNG Acyn (@Acyn) September 8, 2024Walz continued, We are going to make sure our children are seen, they bring their authentic selves, and we are going to make sure theyre safe when they get there.During his speech, Walz praised Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of hate crime murder victim Matthew Shepard, for working to make peoples lives a little bit easier following their sons horrifying 1998 murder.Walz said he worked with the Shepards after their sons death to advocate for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law offering additional support and enhanced penalties for bias-motivated crimes. I walked through the House floor, through the tunnels, from the Longworth House Office Building over to the Capitol, and I made that walk with Matthews mom, Judy Shepard, and the sheriff who found Matthews body tied to that fence post in Wyoming, and I remember walking with a mother who lost her son and hearing the sheriff tell me the only place he wasnt bloody was where the tears ran down Matthews eyes, Walz said.I watched a mother and the unbelievable pain that I couldnt even fathom, to lose a child this way, walk with her head held high to make sure that none of the rest of us ever have to get a call from someone, he added.Walz touted the extensive pro-LGBTQ+ records of himself and Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA), noting how he banned book bans and out-of-state prosecutions of youth gender-affirming care in his state and how Harris has continually supported queer rights as part of the Biden administration. As a U.S. senator, she fought hard for the Equality Act, introduced a bill to make sure you had access to PrEP, and as vice president, and I say this, it is not a stretch, and the facts are there, this is the most pro-LGBTQ+-administration in American history, he said.Walz, who served 24 years in the military, then mentioned former President Donald Trumps ban on transgender military members.Weve had thousands of brave transgender troops, decorated warriors, who served this country, Walz said. When Donald Trump was commander-in-chief, he belittled them and he banned them from service. Thankfully, President Biden and Vice President Harris rescinded that stupid, bigoted policy. He said, If you want to serve this nation, you should be allowed to, and what we should do is respect that service. They should not get incoming fire from their commander-in-chief, attacking their basic dignity, humanity, and patriotism. And I will say this, I didnt serve for 24 years in this to have those guys diminish another troops service.Were not going back to the discrimination, he continued. Were not going to force our children into situations where they become suicidal. Were not going to continue to demonize people because of who they are, and were not going to continue to allow people in this country to go hungry or to be shot dead because we dont make decisions that can improve that.