WASHINGTON — While emphasizing his commitment to defending LGBTQ+ rights, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned JD Vance’s recent remark declaring school shootings to be a “fact of life.”

“It’s definitely a fact of life that some individuals are gay,” Walz stated during his speech at the 2024 Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, D.C. “However, what should not be considered a fact of life is the murder of our children in schools.”

In a tragic incident, four people lost their lives in a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday, while eight students and one teacher were injured.

Vance, responding to this shooting the following day, claimed that school shootings are a “fact of life” and called for increased security measures in educational institutions.

“I dislike that this is a reality,” Vance mentioned at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday. “But if someone is deranged and wants attention, they know that schools are vulnerable targets. We need to reinforce school security.”

During his address to approximately 3,500 attendees at the dinner, Walz reflected on his and Vice President Kamala Harris’ efforts to promote LGBTQ+ rights. He recalled how Harris was among the first individuals to officiate same-sex marriages in the nation.

As a former high school teacher at Mankato West in Minnesota, Walz served as the faculty advisor for the first gay-straight alliance club, established in 1999. He acknowledged that Jacob Reitan, one of the students who helped form the alliance, was present at the HRC dinner.

“Being an ally can be simple, but it’s crucial to have those who will stand up with you when challenges arise,” Walz added.

Throughout the event, Walz consistently challenged Vance’s statements and also directed criticism towards the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Walz asserted that during Trump’s administration, “nothing was done” to address childhood poverty. He expressed, “They failed to take any action on reducing childcare costs,” and referenced a confusing statement Trump recently made about using tariffs to cover childcare expenses. “Did you hear his childcare plan? It was so convoluted that no one could understand it,” Walz remarked.

While criticizing the Republican candidates, Walz emphasized that Democrats must approach the election with a clear strategy rather than relying on hope alone.

He outlined potential actions he and Harris would pursue if elected, including reducing taxes for working families and implementing family and medical leave. He also committed to ensuring the passage and enactment of the Equality Act, which aims to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in various sectors including healthcare, housing, and education.

“When you look around this room, you can sense optimism. We hope to win this election. We hope to enact these laws. We hope to lift people above the poverty line,” Walz stated. “But my wife always reminds me that hope alone is not a strategy.”

“Wishing for victory isn’t a plan. We need an actionable strategy, and we must put in the effort to achieve it,” Walz concluded.