Joe Biden became the first president, “past or present,” to not only attend an LGBTQ+ Victory Institute event in-person but to be honored with the Chris Abele Impact Award for his administration’s dedication to championing LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion at the 41st annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference hosted by LGBTQ+ Victory Institute on Friday, Dec. 5.
Biden’s rare public appearance at the conference comes at a time when federal protections for LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in the U.S.
L-R: LGBTQ+ Victory Action Board member, Chris Abele, 46th President of the United States Joe Biden, David Bohnett Foundation President Michael Fleming, and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute President Evan Low at LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s 41st annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, on Dec. 5.
LGBTQ+ Victory Institute President & CEO Evan Low, alongside inaugural namesake recipient, LGBTQ+ Victory Action board member Chris Abele, and former appointee and President of the David Bohnett Foundation Michael Fleming, presented the award to the former president.
“President Joe Biden is a hero and an icon for our LGBTQ+ community,” said Low. “He has been a long‑time supporter of our work and our mission. He presided over the most inclusive administration in history, hands down.”
Biden opened his speech by thanking Victory Institute for its “visionary leadership.”
“Chris, I’m honored to receive this award in your name,” added the former president. “And I accept this award knowing it’s a recognition of all the work we’ve done together.”
The Chris Abele Impact Award, presented by the Victory Institute, recognizes officials who have had a significant impact on leadership in advancing LGBTQ+ political representation, inclusion, equality, and equity in the U.S. Biden was recognized in part for his work to create the most LGBTQ+ inclusive federal administration in U.S. history. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s David Mixner Political Appointments Program supported the Biden Administration’s achievement of an estimated 14-15% of federal appointees being LGBTQ+.
The inaugural namesake recipient, Abele, is also a philanthropist and former Milwaukee County Executive who made that significant impact by building leadership pipelines and supporting LGBTQ+ candidates for public office.
Biden is the third recipient after Abele and Bohnett. In his acceptance speech, Biden spoke about his leadership in supporting LGBTQ+ rights. The former president signed the Respect for Marriage Act on Dec. 13, 2022, in a historic milestone. The Respect for Marriage Act repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and codified federal protections for both same-sex and interracial marriages.
Former President Joe Biden addresses more than 700 attendees at the 41st annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC on Dec. 5. Photo by United Photography.
“As the ceremony came to an end, the sun began to set. Rainbow lights lit up the portico of the White House,” said Biden, recounting the signing ceremony. “The moment had an air of celebration, but also, quite frankly, for me and for many of you, an air of relief. Finally, through the hard work, faith, counsel, and sheer grit of so many—like those in this room and those who came before you—had finally paid off. A momentous battle was finally won.”
Biden’s allyship didn’t start with the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act. Back in 2012, the then vice president said he got himself into “good trouble,” going on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and proclaiming his support for gay marriage.
During that time, the then vice president recalled speaking in a private home to a group of LGBTQ+ leaders, and one of them asked, “How do you feel about us?”
He recounted walking into the home of the gay couple who were hosting and greeting their two children.
“I wish every American could have seen the love in the eyes of these two young boys for their dads,” said Biden. “It was palpable. You could feel it. Because if they did see that, they’d never have any doubt about what this is all about.”
Though the former president said there’s much work left and many challenges ahead. “It’s because we believe in the power of our democracy to pull the nation together in our worst moments.”
In his acceptance speech for the impact award, Biden says the U.S. is a country founded on the idea that all people are equal, while acknowledging, “we’ve never fully lived up to that idea, but we’ve never walked away from it.”
President Biden’s address was carried live across CSPAN and streamed on multiple digital and linear outlets, a first for the conference. Photo by United Photography.
The Respect for Marriage Act remains federal law under the Trump administration. However, LGBTQ+ advocates say the administration’s policies have rolled back LGBTQ+ civil rights in education, employment, health care and military service, according to the ACLU and Human Rights Campaign.
According to the former president, there’s been a lot of noise. That message has gotten lost. The former president called out that Republicans have weaponized diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and played political football with people’s identities.
Congresswoman Sarah McBride worked for the former president’s late son, Beau Biden, when he was Attorney General of Delaware. The former president recounted that Beau would have to protect McBride, who is transgender, during that time.
Biden credited McBride for what she calls “doing the hard work of persuasion.”
“In these times, which can be dispiriting and even hurtful. Sarah says Hope is a conscious choice. You have to summon it,” added Biden, recounting McBride’s words.
Biden echoed her messaging at a time when legal protections for transgender people are under attack, and they face national scrutiny.
Dozens of states have proposed or passed laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender people, especially transgender youths. Some states have prohibited schools from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation, chosen pronouns, access to restrooms, and participation in sports.
“We are one of the only countries in the world that time and again has come out of every crisis stronger than we entered that crisis,” continued Biden.
“I still believe we will emerge from the many crises caused by this Administration as we always have — stronger, wiser, more resilient, and more just.”
Despite the unprecedented times we live in, Biden’s ultimate message is that “this is no time to give up. It’s time to get up.”
“To the young people listening—especially those sitting alone, scrolling through social media, wondering whether they will ever be loved, accepted, or able to live openly—my message is simple: just be you,” said Biden. “Be who you are.”
Biden’s remarks resonated with LGBTQ+ leaders and allies in the room, eliciting sustained applause and a standing ovation for his administration’s historic wins in the name of LGBTQ+ rights and his call to action for the crowd (and Americans) to keep “summoning hope.”
“We just have to get out. So long as we keep the faith, summon hope, get back up and remember who in hell we are. We’re the United States of America.” as the crowd erupted in energetic applause.
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