President Biden Promises To Keep LGBTQIA+ People Safe, But Is This Promise Possible?
On Tuesday, September 19, President Joe Biden addressed the UN General Assembly in New York for the 78th annual session. In his speech, Biden made promises to protect LGBTQIA+ people from persecution and violence.
The US is divided between left and right
President Biden’s administration has faced significant setbacks with state governments introducing some of the most vigorous anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in history.
Biden (a Democrat) made it a part of his campaign platform to support LGBTQIA+ communities, yet the wave of legislation (from Republicans) targeting queer minorities has made keeping this promise a challenge. According to PinkNews, the ACLU has mapped 496 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills since the beginning of 2023 and the likelihood of this to decrease is low.
In his address, Biden says: “We have to continue working to ensure that women and girls enjoy equal rights and equal participation in their societies, that indigenous groups – racial, ethnic, religious minorities, people with disabilities – do not have their potential stifled by systematic discrimination, that LGBTQIA+ people are not prosecuted or targeted with violence because of who they are.”
Biden’s continued support for minority groups can’t be overlooked, however, it remains clear that his administration has a long path ahead.
