As National Pride Month begins, President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign is ramping up efforts to strengthen support from LGBTQ voters. With plans to participate in over 200 Pride events across 23 states, including crucial battlegrounds, the campaign is also launching a significant media push aimed at mobilizing LGBTQ voters. The month-long initiative will culminate in a fundraiser in New York City on June 28.
Concerns about dwindling support among LGBTQ voters have prompted this extensive outreach. Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden have already taken proactive steps, engaging with LGBTQ leaders and allies in Los Angeles and surprising attendees at the Pittsburgh Pride festival, respectively.
“This community is under attack,” the First Lady remarked, highlighting state laws that target LGBTQ individuals. She criticized former President Donald Trump, calling him a bully to the LGBTQ community and urging the crowd to prevent his return to office.
A January poll by GLAAD showed strong support for Biden among LGBTQ registered voters, with 68% overall and 72% in battleground states, compared to Trump’s 15%. However, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has pledged $15 million to support Biden in six key states, citing concerns that up to one-third of the 75 million “equality voters” might not be firmly in Biden’s camp.
Brandon Wolf, HRC’s national press secretary, emphasized the stark contrast between Biden and Trump on LGBTQ issues, underscoring the high stakes of the election. The Biden campaign plans to highlight Biden’s record as “the most pro-equality president in American history” while portraying Trump as a threat to LGBTQ rights.
Sam Alleman, the Biden-Harris campaign’s national LGBTQ+ engagement director, stated, “Winning campaigns invest early and often into its coalition of support. This Pride month is a reflection of real action to mobilize and activate LGBTQ+ voters well ahead of November.”
Biden’s allies are frustrated by any perceived softening of support, pointing to his consistent advocacy for LGBTQ rights. As vice president, Biden endorsed same-sex marriage before President Barack Obama, and as president, he has signed legislation protecting marriage rights for same-sex couples, lifted the ban on transgender military service, and issued executive orders safeguarding LGBTQ civil rights.
On Friday, Biden proclaimed June as National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, reaffirming that advancing equality for the LGBTQI+ community is a top priority for his administration.
In contrast, Trump’s presidency included a ban on transgender military service, and he opposes gender-affirming care for children. Yet, efforts within the GOP, including a fundraiser headlined by former First Lady Melania Trump, aim to present a more moderate stance on LGBTQ rights to avoid alienating general election voters.
In the 2020 election, NBC News exit polling showed Biden securing 64% of the LGBTQ vote compared to Trump’s 27%. Wolf argues that Biden’s track record, including the Respect for Marriage Act and protections in schools and healthcare, offers a compelling vision for equality voters.
While acknowledging that Biden needs to continue engaging with the LGBTQ community, Wolf believes the Biden-Harris campaign has a unique opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and future plans for advancing LGBTQ rights.