In the middle of a pandemic and with climate change nipping at our heels, remembering the individuals who comprise our country is more important now than ever. That is why the Chronicle is endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden for president.

Biden’s policies incorporate empathy and science to ensure the safety of the American people, where President Donald Trump has focused on personal beliefs and the state of the economy in the present rather than thinking ahead to the future.

In regard to climate change, Biden’s policies look out for the livelihoods of U.S. citizens now and through 2050—when he plans to achieve a 100% clean energy economy—rather than focusing on profits now. Meanwhile, Trump empowers the fossil fuel industry.

In the current state of unrest, the attention Biden gives to marginalized communities is also a breath of fresh air.

He plans to stand up to polluters to ensure safe drinking water for communities like Flint, Michigan, and Harlan, Kentucky. And rather than incarcerating individuals for drug use alone, Biden has said the system should send people to drug courts and treatment for their addictions.

These potential reforms are important because issues like systemic poverty in Flint, where the median household income is $27,717, and the cycle of drug addiction are difficult to fix without intervention and government resources.

Furthermore, Biden not only plans to end the military ban on transgender individuals, he will also make prosecuting the murderers of transgender women of color a priority.

After the military ban on transgender individuals was allowed to go into effect by the Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 2019, and since the president began praising countries who impose the death penalty on drug dealers, we are ready for a change.

We have grown tired of the politicization of issues like LGBTQ+ rights, which are human rights. And we believe Biden is in favor of human rights—even basic ones, like the right to access affordable health care.

Throughout his campaign, Biden said he will establish a review board to asses drug prices in other countries and recommend reasonable costs for the U.S., expand the Affordable Care Act and bring back all federal funding to Planned Parenthood.

Affordable access to birth control, medications and other treatments is personal—from inhalers to EpiPens, insulin, glasses and birth control for keeping medical conditions at bay.

Trump’s desire to repeal the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood would affect American citizens’ right to breathe, see and live comfortably. Employer insurance may not be an option for everyone, especially for those of us pursuing art-based careers, who will likely work as freelancers in the future.

Biden is not perfect, but he has grown, proving his openness to change, and we see potential in him to innovate and learn even more. He used to oppose gay marriage. Now he is a proponent for LGBTQ+ rights. We do not agree with his refusal to ban fracking, but we hope his willingness to revise his policies eventually rears its head here, too.

What matters is that he represents us and is learning to adapt to voters’ needs as science and issues of social justice evolve.

In March, in an effort to reach out to younger voters, Biden adopted part of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) higher education plan: making public colleges and universities free to anyone whose family income is less than $125,000 per year.

A vote for Biden is a vote for empathy, science and human rights, so our ballot has a black oval next to his name.

General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. You can check your registration status and polling place, as well as early voting locations near you, on Vote.org. Wear your mask and bring your friends—we’ll see you there!