During the breaks of Sunday football, a series of advertisements have emerged that criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for endorsing the transgender community.

One ad claims, “Kamala supports tax-payer funded sex changes for prisoners. Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”

Groups supporting Donald Trump have invested millions in broadcasting these ads, particularly during weekend NFL games, as reported by CNN and ABC News.

The messages featured in these advertisements align with the previous narratives used by the former president, who has been critical of Harris’ track record on health care for transgender inmates. In a notable moment during the presidential debate, Trump accused Harris of wanting to “perform transgender operations on illegal aliens in prison.”

A survey released Thursday by LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD, in partnership with Ground Media, revealed that these ads did not meaningfully alter viewers’ preferences for candidates or their likelihood to vote, compared to those who viewed unrelated advertisements. However, the advocacy groups indicated that the ads have detrimental effects on the trans community, as survey participants reported a decrease in their acceptance of transgender individuals after seeing the ads.

“This illustrates that targeting the trans community isn’t merely a poor political tactic—it is a profoundly cynical approach,” remarked David Rochkind, CEO of Ground Media. “These advertisements exploit trans identities to cultivate fear and division, which ultimately makes our nation less secure for everyone.”

Prisoners are entitled to healthcare, including gender-affirming care

As highlighted by GLAAD, Harris has committed to ensuring access to medical care for transgender and nonbinary individuals who “depend on the state—especially those in prison and immigration detention,” as stated in a 2019 ACLU questionnaire.

Legally, incarcerated individuals are entitled to healthcare, and all major medical organizations endorse healthcare access for transgender people, as stated by GLAAD.

In a recent Fox News interview with Bret Baier, when asked about this subject, Harris affirmed her commitment to adhere to the law and noted that Trump also complied with legal requirements during his presidency. Officials appointed by Trump at the Bureau of Prisons had also facilitated gender-affirming treatments for certain inmates who requested them, as originally reported by The New York Times.

“Honestly, the ad from the Trump campaign feels a bit like throwing stones while living in a glass house,” Harris commented during the interview. Trump’s campaign contended that he never endorsed such surgeries, according to The Times.

The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group formed by former Republicans, has produced advertisements pointing out this inconsistency, stating that Trump is “gaslighting America.”

“Trump is for he/him, Kamala is for us,” the ad proclaims.

The Trump campaign did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Advertisements perpetuate damaging misinformation about the transgender community

In recent years, the transgender community has faced increasing scrutiny from far-right factions, resulting in numerous bills introduced at both state and federal levels aimed at limiting access to healthcare for youth, controlling bathroom usage, and restricting participation in sports.

Imara Jones, CEO of TransLash Media, asserts that the current backlash against the trans community began prior to this election cycle, and even before the last one.

“The current state of this conversation regarding trans individuals being politicized is not incidental,” Jones remarked during an interview with YSL News. “This has been a long-standing agenda of the Christian Nationalist movement, which has now become central to the Republican Party.”

She explained that this ideology is rooted in the desire to control individual bodies, and politically, it serves to mobilize supporters.

Jones also denounced the politicization of healthcare for incarcerated individuals as “bogus,” noting that it is not a pivotal issue affecting trans people today.

“Trans individuals are primarily concerned about their safety, which these ads exacerbate,” Jones added, citing rising rates of suicide and hate crimes against trans people fueled by widespread transphobic discourse. “Trans people have numerous concerns—safety, housing, employment and this dialogue does nothing to help.”

Jones observed that there has been a noticeable absence of a coordinated response from those opposing these ads.

While the Harris campaign did not specifically comment for this article, they referenced Harris’ stance during an NBC News interview. She stated, “I believe that all individuals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and should not be vilified or bullied for who they are,” during the interview with Hallie Jackson on October 22. “This principle has guided my career and remains unchanged.”

In response to the anti-trans advertisements, GLAAD has launched a campaign called “Here we are,” aimed at sharing the stories of everyday trans individuals.

Examining Harris’ and Trump’s records on LGBTQ issues

The 2024 election is shaping up to be an extremely close contest, where young voters, the most visible LGBTQ generation ever, could play a decisive role in the outcome.

GLAAD has been monitoring Trump’s actions impacting the LGBTQ community.

According to GLAAD, the former president has launched over 220 “attacks” against LGBTQ individuals through speeches, presidential actions, and legislative backing. A significant part of the Republican Party’s platform includes a pledge aimed at transgender women, specifically committing to exclude them from “women’s sports.” Additionally, Trump has inaccurately claimed that children are undergoing gender-affirming surgeries in schools, has promised to terminate gender-affirming healthcare for minors, and has contributed to the reduction of federal abortion rights.

On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris has a record of over 65 actions supporting the LGBTQ community, based on data from the GLAAD accountability tracker. She was an advocate for same-sex marriage as early as 2004 and opted not to defend a ban on same-sex marriage while serving as California’s attorney general. Although she initially denied gender-affirming care to transgender inmates during her term as AG, she sought to reform those policies from within, according to the Advocate. As Vice President, she has addressed violence against LGBTQ individuals in Guatemala as a factor in immigration, condemned anti-LGBTQ legislation in Florida, and expressed her support for the transgender community on the Transgender Day of Visibility.