Joe Biden Lashes Trump For ‘Trying To Distort’ Fight For LGBTQ+ Equality

WASHINGTON – To a standing ovation, former President Joe Biden on Friday urged LGBTQ+ people to “get up and fight back” against President Donald Trump’s efforts to demonize the community.

“This is no time to give up. Get up. Get up and fight back. Get up!” Biden said in remarks at the annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.

“What’s the fight all about? It’s about protecting the Constitution!” he said.

The former president briefly joined the event, hosted by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, to accept an award recognizing his legacy of advancing LGBTQ+ policies and the historic levels of LGBTQ+ representation in his administration.

His presence marked the first time a former president has attended this event.

Biden spoke for about 15 minutes and mostly reflected on his support for LGBTQ+ rights over the years. He brought up his infamous slip-up on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in 2012, when, as vice president, he got out in front of then-President Barack Obama and said he supported same-sex marriage. Three days later, Obama followed suit.

“I got myself in a bit of trouble,” he said. “But, good trouble.”

But Biden also took direct aim at Trump’s attacks on LGBTQ+ people. He specifically called out Trump’s nonsensical demonization of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI initiatives, and his assault on transgender people.

“Donald Trump… is trying to distort and derail our fight for equality. He’s trying to turn it into something scary, something sinister,” he said. “Folks, it’s really not about anything that’s all that complicated. At its core, it’s about making every American, giving the opportunity to be treated with basic decency. That’s what every single American deserves.”

“This administration is trying to use those issues as a wedge to further divide the country,” he continued. “There’s nothing more American than the notion of equality. Nothing, nothing, nothing.”

Several people could be seen crying as Biden spoke. One attendee seated near HuffPost could be heard quietly saying, “This is what we lost,” presumably referring to Biden no longer being president, the result of Democrats’ messy 2024 presidential campaign that led to Biden dropping out, then-Vice President Kamala Harris filling in at the 11th hour and Trump winning anyway.

“There are young people sitting home alone as I speak, literally behind closed doors, scrolling through social media, staring at the ceiling, wondering… whether they’ll ever be loved, will ever marry, will ever have a family, ever truly be accepted for who they are,” Biden said.

“So my message to young people is this: Just be you,” he said. “You are loved. You’re heard. You belong, you belong, you belong.”

Before leaving, the former president asked every LGBTQ+ elected official in the room of hundreds to stand up and be recognized.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” he told them. “Think of what you’ve done.”