Joe Biden Receives LGBTQ+ Victory Institute Award, Calls for Renewed Fight for Equality

Former President Joe Biden was honored by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute at its International Leaders Conference, where he accepted an award and delivered remarks emphasizing the continued struggle for LGBTQ+ equality and democratic inclusion in the United States. The event brought together LGBTQ+ elected officials, advocates, and international leaders focused on expanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex representation in public office and public life.

Speaking to the conference audience, Biden framed LGBTQ+ equality as central to the broader American promise that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. He said that efforts to roll back rights or portray LGBTQ+ communities as “scary” or “sinister” are part of a larger attempt to derail the fight for equality and to deepen division in the country. Biden told attendees that this moment was “no time to give up, ” urging them instead “to get up and fight back, ” language that echoed themes he has used in recent public appearances centered on defending democratic institutions and civil rights.

Biden located LGBTQ+ rights within a historical narrative about American democracy, describing the United States as a nation “founded on an idea” rather than on geography, religion, or ethnicity. He referenced the Declaration of Independence’s assertion that “all men are created equal, ” and argued that the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality is part of the unfinished work of making that ideal a lived reality for everyone, including transgender people, nonbinary people, and queer communities who continue to face discrimination.

As he accepted the Victory Institute honor—a recognition the organization reserves for public leaders who have advanced LGBTQ+ representation and rights—Biden was introduced by LGBTQ+ leaders who credited him with appointing a historically diverse administration and supporting openly LGBTQ+ public servants. In his speech, Biden reiterated that when he took office he had promised an administration that “looked like America, ” and asserted that he had kept that promise by appointing LGBTQ+ people, people of color, women, and other underrepresented communities to senior roles across the federal government.

Biden linked the advancement of LGBTQ+ people into public office and leadership positions to the mission of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute itself, which trains, supports, and connects LGBTQ+ candidates and officials in the United States and abroad. The Institute’s longstanding motto, “Don’t get mad. Get elected, ” was echoed from the stage, underscoring the organization’s strategy that full equality requires LGBTQ+ people and allies to be present at decision-making tables from local councils to national parliaments.

Biden emphasized that the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality is inseparable from broader fights over economic opportunity and access to essential services. He argued that equality must include the ability of every person, including LGBTQ+ people, to make a decent living, pay their rent, afford groceries, and send their children to college. He also stressed that equal access to high‑quality, affordable health care—particularly including gender‑affirming and culturally competent care—is a core part of what it means to be fully included in society.

In reflecting on his time in office, Biden pointed to job growth and economic recovery metrics from his administration, stating that 16 million new jobs had been created and that unemployment had fallen to a 50‑year low during his tenure. He presented these figures as part of a broader case that strengthening the economy and protecting civil rights—including protections for LGBTQ+ workers and families—can and should occur together.

Biden also referenced specific policy areas important to LGBTQ+ communities, including efforts to lower health care costs, reduce college expenses, and curb so‑called “junk fees” in consumer markets, arguing that these moves provided tangible benefits to many marginalized communities. While he did not recite a detailed list of LGBTQ‑specific policies in these remarks, his administration has previously cited actions such as reversing the ban on transgender military service, issuing guidance on Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students, and supporting the Respect for Marriage Act as part of its civil rights record.

The conference itself took place amid an environment in which LGBTQ+ advocates report rising hostility, including anti‑transgender legislation, efforts to restrict inclusive education, and attempts to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across several U. S. states. In panel discussions surrounding Biden’s appearance, state legislators and health advocates described how attacks on transgender health care, DEI programs, and inclusive curricula contribute to broader “health care deserts” and harm rural and low‑income communities, including LGBTQ+ people and people of color.

Speakers from states including Massachusetts and North Carolina highlighted the importance of fully funding Medicaid and supporting community health centers in order to maintain access to affirming care in the face of political and financial pressure. They warned that efforts to “purge” DEI policies from universities and health systems have direct consequences for LGBTQ+ patients and providers, particularly transgender people, nonbinary people, and queer people living in rural or conservative regions.

Within that context, Biden’s comments about resilience and solidarity resonated with many attendees. He praised the “resilience” of the LGBTQ+ community and urged people to “talk to each other” and “rely on each other” as they navigate what multiple speakers described as a “tough” political climate, marked by legal challenges and rhetorical attacks. Biden’s remarks aligned with the Victory Institute’s focus on building durable networks of LGBTQ+ leaders who can support one another across jurisdictions and policy areas.

Biden also drew a direct contrast between his approach and that of former President Donald Trump and aligned “MAGA Republicans, ” accusing them of attempting to “distort and derail” the movement for equality by using LGBTQ+ issues as a wedge to divide the country. He argued that there is “nothing more American than the notion of equality, ” asserting that inclusive policies strengthen, rather than weaken, the nation. This framing echoed his earlier statements at LGBTQ‑focused events that position LGBTQ+ rights as a barometer for the health of American democracy.

From an LGBTQ+ perspective, the award from the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute carries symbolic and strategic significance. The Institute, which operates programs such as the Victory Congressional Fellowship and international training for LGBTQ+ candidates, has argued that increasing the number of openly LGBTQ+ elected officials leads to more inclusive policymaking and better outcomes for LGBTQ+ communities. By honoring a former president who has publicly aligned himself with LGBTQ+ equality efforts, the organization underscored its belief that support from high‑level national leaders remains critical, even as local and state officials continue to face intense policy battles over rights and recognition.

The event also demonstrated the international dimension of the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. The Victory Institute’s International Leaders Conference convenes activists and public officials from multiple regions—including Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia—to share strategies for advancing LGBTQ+ equality under varied legal and cultural conditions. Participants at recent conferences have addressed topics such as combating anti‑LGBTQ+ rhetoric, safeguarding transgender people’s rights, and building cross‑movement coalitions among LGBTQ+, racial justice, and disability advocates.

During the program surrounding Biden’s award, speakers noted that attacks on LGBTQ+ rights often coincide with efforts to restrict voting rights, academic freedom, reproductive autonomy, and environmental justice initiatives, suggesting that these struggles are interconnected. Such intersections were reflected in calls from panelists to “broaden the coalition” of communities that prioritize LGBTQ+ issues because they, too, are affected by policies that erode civil rights and access to care.

Biden closed his remarks with an appeal to collective action, saying there is “nothing beyond our capacity in America when we act together. ” He urged LGBTQ+ leaders and allies to keep organizing, running for office, and pushing for policies that ensure every person—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or economic status—can live with “basic decency, dignity, and respect. ” For attendees of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute conference, the combination of recognition, candid assessment of current threats, and call to continued engagement reflected both the progress achieved in recent years and the work that remains for LGBTQ+ equality in the United States and around the world.