LGBTQ+ Victory Institute honors Biden for building the most LGBTQ+ inclusive administration in U.S. history and advancing groundbreaking civil rights protections
Washington, DC — The LGBTQ+ Victory Institute—the only national organization dedicated to elevating out LGBTQ leaders at all levels of government—is proud to announce today that President Joe Biden will receive the Chris Abele Impact Award to honor his historic role in championing LGBTQ+ rights and for his leadership in achieving the most LGBTQ+ inclusive administration in U.S. history. President Biden will be the third recipient of the award in the Institute’s history.
“President Biden has shown unwavering commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ people can participate fully and openly in our democracy,” said Evan Low, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute President & CEO. “From appointing a record number of LGBTQ+ leaders to reversing harmful policies and expanding civil rights protections, his administration set a new and necessary standard for what inclusive governance looks like. And now, we’re seeing LGBTQ+ elected officials lead the way on everyday issues that are important to most Americans like groceries, housing, and lowering the costs of healthcare. This award honors not only his achievements, but also the real impact these changes have had on LGBTQ+ Americans across the country.”
President Biden will receive the award at the 41st annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 5. The conference, which runs from December 4–6, will convene more than 700 LGBTQ+ political leaders and human rights advocates for the largest LGBTQ+ political conference in the nation. Other notable speakers include Mass. Governor Maura Healey, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, and Mayors Gina Ortiz Jones and Todd Gloria.
With the support of the Victory Institute’s David Mixner Political Appointments Program and LGBTQ+ Excellence Program, LGBTQ+ representation and policy progress reached historic levels under the Biden-Harris administration. Approximately 15 percent of President Biden’s appointees identify as LGBTQ+, far surpassing any previous administration. This includes groundbreaking firsts such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly LGBTQ+ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member; Admiral Rachel Levine, the first out transgender Senate-confirmed official and four-star officer; Chantale Wong, the first out LGBTQ+ woman and person of color to serve at the ambassador level; and Karine Jean-Pierre, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as White House Press Secretary.
Beyond representation, the Biden-Harris administration reinstated and expanded federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people, strengthened anti-discrimination rules in employment and healthcare, reversed prior restrictions on transgender military service, and advanced protections for LGBTQ+ youth and families across federal agencies. These actions reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities and ensuring the dignity of LGBTQ+ people are recognized, valued, and protected.
