Major LGBTQ+ orgs make history in joint endorsement of Joe Biden’s re-election

The Human Rights Campaign Political Action Committee (HRC PAC), the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), and Equality PAC have made history by issuing their first-ever joint endorsement for president. On Tuesday, the three groups issued statements supporting the re-election campaign of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Biden-Harris campaign thanked the groups for their endorsements. The endorsements occurred the day before National Coming Out Day and four days before Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden are expected to deliver remarks at the HRC’s National Dinner in Washington on Saturday.

Related:

Joe Biden condemns GOP’s “callous” attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans

“It matters a great deal how we treat everyone in this country,” Biden said.

Their endorsements follow an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation nationwide — with 550 bills introduced in 43 states and more than 80 signed into law — as well as increasing anti-queer rhetoric from all of the Republican presidential candidates.

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“At a time when the forces of hatred seek to divide us by race, place, and identity the choice in this election is clear,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. “LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency and the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration is needed now more than ever…. as LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency — experiencing unprecedented attacks from extremist politicians and their right-wing allies in states across the country, who are working tirelessly to erase us.”

Among the current administration’s accomplishments mentioned by the HRC are Biden’s signing of the Respect for Marriage Act, a law codifying government recognition of same-sex marriages; his administration’s challenging of book bans, gender-affirming care bans, and anti-trans school policies; his support of gender markers for nonbinary people on passports; his revocation of former President Donald Trump’s anti-transgender military ban; and the revision of blood donation restrictions for gay and bisexual men

In its endorsement announcement, the HRC PAC said it would mobilize an estimated 13.5 million Equality Voters in key swing states “to support pro-equality, pro-choice, and pro-democracy candidates.”

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the NCTE Action Fund, said, “Without question, the Biden Administration has been the strongest advocate for the needs of transgender Americans of any presidential administration in American history. Throughout his first term, President Biden has laid the groundwork for a new era of strengthened rights and improved well-being for transgender Americans.”

“We anticipate and look forward to further momentum for the advancement of transgender rights that could be accomplished in a second term, and toward a future where collaborative initiatives continue to thrive,” Heng-Lehtinen added. “The pursuit of equality remains an ongoing journey, and the Biden Administration’s accomplishments of today lay a solid groundwork for an even more promising tomorrow.”

In a statement, Equality PAC Co-Chairs Reps. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) said, “Equality PAC is proud to stand with the most pro-equality Administration in the history of the United States — and we will do everything we can to help re-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris next year.”

“It is critical that we elect strong allies into office at every level of our government, including the presidency and vice presidency … that will stand up for our community and speak out against injustice and hate,” their statement continued. “Make no mistake, LGBTQ rights are on the ballot in 2024 — and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the only candidates where we can put our faith, trust, and vote next year.”

In addition to the Bidens’ comments at the HRC’s National Dinner on Saturday, the HRC will also honor Black queer-inclusive TV creators Shonda Rhimes and Lena Waithe, gay actor and activist Matt Bomer, and also four teens who organized the Trans Youth Prom: Grayson McFerrin, Libby Gonzales, Hobbes Chukumba, and Daniel Trujillo.

“We are deeply honored to earn this historic, unified endorsement from the nation’s leading LGBTQ+ groups,” Biden-Harris Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. “Across the country, MAGA Republicans are hell-bent on taking away LGBTQ+ Americans’ hard-fought freedoms and are using our fellow Americans’ identities for political warfare. It’s shameful and not who we are as a country.

“The stakes of this election could not be higher for LGBTQ+ Americans,” Rodriguez added. “Next year’s election will determine whether LGBTQ+ Americans have more freedoms or less… and President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to fighting for every American’s fundamental freedoms.”