Joe Biden Hits back At Trump While Claiming Top LGBTQIA+ Award
Former US president Joe Biden received the Chris Abele Impact Award at the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s 41st International LGBTQIA+ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC (5–7 December). The prize recognises what many consider one of the most LGBTQIA+-inclusive administrations in US history.
In his acceptance speech, Biden directly criticised Donald Trump and his allies for turning queer identity into “a political football.” He urged the community to stand up and defend progress.
Victory Institute CEO Evan Low pointed to concrete achievements under Biden’s watch: a record number of LGBTQIA+ appointments, the undoing of harmful policies, and expanded federal protections. These moves, he said, allowed queer people to participate openly in democracy.
Biden’s record includes appointing prominent queer leaders, restoring access for transgender people to serve in the military under a 2021 executive order, and strengthening civil-rights protections nationwide.
This award and speech arrive at a tense moment. The current administration under Trump has rolled back many LGBTQIA+ protections, including reinstating a transgender military ban under Executive Order 14183 in January 2025.
Biden’s remarks serve as a call to resist those rollbacks. He argued that personal identity should not be used as a tool for political advantage or fear-mongering.
For many in the community, this recognition may not undo recent losses, but it offers a reminder that progress was possible and could be again.
