Vice President Kamala Harris addressed a large crowd of supporters Wednesday afternoon, following her loss to former President Donald Trump.

She began her remarks by reaffirming her commitment to honoring the outcome of the election and the peaceful transfer of power.

“I do not concede the fight that fuels this campaign,” she said. “The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at all best.”

Harris urged her supporters, many of them emotional, not to despair — echoing remarks she has made in the past about the need to keep up the fight for justice.

“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is, don’t ever give up. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place.”

More specifically, she said, “This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organize, to mobilize and stay engaged for the sake of freedom.”

“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time,” Harris said, “but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case.”

“But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars. The light, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service. And may that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America.”

Leaders of more than 80 LGBTQ organizations from around the country released the following joint statement to the Washington Blade on Wednesday:

Our LGBTQIA2S+ community has risen again and again to meet moments that have challenged our rights, our humanity, and our freedom. Today is no different.

Ours is a long history of never backing down from a fight for our rights. United in our strength, during the most difficult of times, we have pushed forward and achieved significant progress across the decades. From the early days of the Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis, to the Stonewall Uprising and HIV/AIDS activism, to achieving marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections in the workplace, to the fight for transgender rights, and beyond, we march on.

For every member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and for those who support us: We’ve got this. We’ve got us. No matter who you are, where you live, or the outcome of yesterday’s election, today we are an LGBTQIA2S+ community united. Together, across races, places, genders, and abilities, we have shown up for each other by organizing, mobilizing, and casting our ballots for the freedom to be ourselves. Our work continues.

Election outcomes at national, state, and local levels will impact our health, our safety, and our rights as LGBTQIA2S+ people and families. Despite anti-LGBTQIA2S+ efforts to divide our communities, and particularly severe attacks against transgender people and LGBTQIA2S+ youth, we have succeeded in moving a few steps closer toward equity and justice for our community. In particular, we celebrate the election of the first openly transgender person to U.S. Congress, Rep. Sarah McBride (Del.), as well as out lawmakers U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson (Texas), and state Rep. Wick Thomas (Mo.), and cementing the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in California, Colorado, and Hawaii.

Across the country, LGBTQIA2S+ organizations and advocates engaged and educated voters, made calls, sent texts, and knocked on doors to ensure every voter had the information necessary to cast a ballot. Every single conversation reflected our commitment to vote for our families, our freedoms, and our futures.

We know that so much more work lies ahead of us. Yet as an LGBTQIA2S+ movement, we will continue to work towards what we always have: a country where all LGBTQIA2S+ people are safe, seen, and accepted for who we truly are, without exception. We are here together, and we will move forward. We’ve got this. We’ve got us.

Shared by:

Advocates for Trans Equality

Basic Rights Oregon

CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers

Equality Federation

Equality Arizona

Equality California

Equality Delaware

Equality Florida

Equality Michigan 

Equality New Mexico

Fair Wisconsin

Fairness Campaign

Fairness West Virginia

Family Equality

Garden State Equality

Gender Justice

Georgia Equality

GLAAD

Human Rights Campaign

Lambda Legal

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition

Movement Advancement Project

National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund

NBJC

North Dakota Human Rights Coalition

One Colorado

OutFront Minnesota 

OutNebraska

PFLAG National

PFLAG Akron

PFLAG Athens, TN

PFLAG Blairsville 

PFLAG Bowie

PFLAG Cape Cod

PFLAG Cape Girardeau 

PFLAG Carson Region

PFLAG Charlotte

PFLAG Clayton-Concord

PFLAG Corydon-Leavenworth

PFLAG Danville – San Ramon Valley 

PFLAG Danville / Central Susquehanna Valley

PFLAG Denver

PFLAG Fort Collins

PFLAG Franklin

PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire 

PFLAG Ft Worth

PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities

PFLAG Georgetown 

PFLAG Greater Boston

PFLAG Greater Orlando

PFLAG Greater Placer County 

PFLAG Greensburg

PFLAG Hampton Roads

PFLAG Hartford 

PFLAG Jersey Shore

PFLAG Lamorinda 

PFLAG Lower Columbia

PFLAG Nazareth/Lehigh Valley

PFLAG of Door County

PFLAG Safety Harbor 

PFLAG Salisbury Rowan

PFLAG San Diego County

PFLAG Socorro

PFLAG Storm Lake

PFLAG Tulsa

PFLAG Waukesha

Queer Vox

SAGE

Silver State Equality

Tennessee Equality Project

The Trevor Project

Transformation Project

Transgender Law Center

Aime Wichtendahl first made history as the first openly trans woman to be elected to government in the state of Iowa when elected to the Hiawatha City Council. She made history again this Election Day, becoming Iowa’s first trans legislator.

Wichtendahl kept the seat blue by beating Republican opponent John Thompson 52 to 48. She will succeed Art Staed (D), who ran successfully for a state Senate seat, with unanimous support from the Democratic base.

Wichtendahl summed up her platform on a social media post days before the election as:

• Repeal the abortion ban 
• Legalize marijuana 
• Invest in public education 
• Support unions 
• Defend civil rights

“I am honored to make history tonight,” Wichtendahl said in a statement to The Gazette, ”It shows that Iowans and Americans at large are tired of the culture war politics and anti-trans legislation and will vote for leaders who prioritize their well being and work for them to get ahead.”