PHILADELPHIA _ At an LGBT delegate luncheon Wednesday, Chelsea Clinton lit into the Republicans, calling the rhetoric out of their convention in Cleveland "divisive, degrading, demeaning."
"I thought about what I found most offensive last week _ it's hard to pick just one part," the soft-spoken Clinton said, stepping into the convention spotlight in a warm-up to her speech Thursday introducing her mom, Hillary Clinton.
"What I actually found most offensive was the open embrace of conversion therapy in the Republican platform, in other words child abuse," she said, referring to the medically discredited theory that gay people can be "converted."
"To me it's the clarion call for us to do everything we can to elect my mom."
The presence of Clinton, 36, at the Human Rights Campaign luncheon electrified the LGBT delegates gathered for what is being called "the gayest convention in history." About 11.5 percent of delegates are LGBT, and 28 are transgender, according to Earl Fowlkes, the Democratic National Committee's LGBT caucus chair.
"We love you, Chelsea!" someone shouted.
"Well, thank you. I feel the same way about you," she answered.
Clinton, who steps up to the plate after last week's well-received speeches by four of Donald Trump's children, came off as warm and serious in her short but heartfelt speech.
The former and possibly next first daughter now has two young children. She noted this year's election was her first as a mother and "the most important election in my lifetime. I didn't know I could care more intensely than I already cared, and then I became a parent," she said.
Clinton, who has mostly kept out of the spotlight in recent years, walked into the room to loud applause, and said, "You have to stop or I'm going to cry."
She said she would be campaigning every day "to keep Trump and Pence" from being elected.
"Everything I care most about is at risk in this election," Clinton said.
