Joe Biden shares heartfelt message of LGBT+ solidarity: ‘Know you are loved and accepted, and I’ll fight every day for you’
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio, the day after the first presidential debate between him and Donald Trump. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Joe Biden marked National Coming Out day with a stirring message of solidarity with the LGBT+ community.
The Democratic presidential candidate used Twitter to profess his dedication to queer people across the US, promising that his White House would promote equality and fight discrimination.
“I want every member of the LGBTQ+ community to know you are loved and accepted just as you are — whether you’ve come out or not,” Biden tweeted Sunday (October 11).
“I’ll fight every day in the White House to create a country where you can live open, proud, and free — without fear.”
I want every member of the LGBTQ+ community to know you are loved and accepted just as you are — whether you've come out or not. I'll fight every day in the White House to create a country where you can live open, proud, and free — without fear. #NationalComingOutDay
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 11, 2020
As the November 3 election looms closer, Biden has in recent weeks doubled down on his support for LGBT+ rights.
At a presidential town hall for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in September, he again vowed to “fight with conviction” on behalf of the community.
“Together we’ll pass the Equality Act, protect LGBTQ youth, expand access to health care, support LGBTQ workers, win full rights for transgender Americans, recommit to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025, advance LGBT rights around the globe, not just at home,” Biden said.
Biden’s tone is in noted contrast to that of his adversary Donald Trump – who despite claiming to be the “most pro-LGBT+ president” in history, has presided over some of the most devastating LGBT+ rights rollbacks in recent times.
According GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project, the current administration has lodged more than 160 attacks on the LGBT+ community in the past four years, including its ban on trans people serving in the military, the erosion of trans healthcare protections and its plans to limit access for trans people in single-sex homeless shelters.
A recent poll by the media monitoring organisation found that of 800 LGBT+ Americans, 76 per cent favour Biden over Trump, with 81 per cent saying they feel more motivated to vote in this election than in previous cycles.
As well as National Coming Out Day, which celebrates both those who have come out as queer and those who aren’t able to, Sunday also marked International Day of the Girl, which highlights the challenges faced by girls and young women globally.
Biden noted this dual observance, continuing on Twitter: “Today, let’s all celebrate the one billion girls and young women around the world — and recommit to fight for their education, work, health, rights, and opportunities.”
Trump failed to commemorate either occasion. Instead, his Twitter usage was focused on repeating the debunked claim he has a 96 per cent approval rating, and claiming he is now “immune” to COVID-19, in the process violating Twitter rules on “spreading misleading and potentially harmful information” related to the virus.
