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Joe Biden has become the 46th President of the United States. He was decisively voted into White House by over 81 million people, the highest
popular vote in American history.
The inauguration ceremony took place on the west front of the United States Capitol facing the National Mall, with its backdrop of the iconic Washington Monument, at 12 noon on Wednesday 20th January. At the ceremony Kamala Harris made history too as the first ever female, Black, and Asian American sworn in as Vice President. |
"No one should be fired, denied a home or access to services because of who they are or who they love."
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Despite the rioting in and around the capitol building on 6th January, a majority of Americans have firmly rejected four more years of the sedition,
homophobia, racism, chaos and hatred that has been at the forefront of the last administration.
They have chosen instead a complete change to a kind and caring man as President who stands up for equality, social justice and all the people.
Joe Biden's party, the Democrats, have also retained control of the House of Representatives and taken control of the Senate giving them the
opportunity to change the course of the country and pass new legislation more easily.
Many people are now asking: Is this going to be the step change needed for gay rights in the USA that could influence so many other countries around the world? |
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"Who do you love? Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love? And that's what people are finding out is
what all marriages, at their root, are about."
Joe Biden, Meet the Press - NBC, May 6, 2012 |
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Joe Biden believes that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity and be able to live without fear no matter who
they are or who they love. During the Obama-Biden Administration, the United States made historic strides toward LGBTQ+ equality from the
repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to Biden's historic declaration in support of marriage equality in 2012.
Hate and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people started long before the current US Administration took office. Their defeat has certainly not solved the problem, but it is an essential first step in the march toward equality. As President, Joe Biden has pledged to stand with the LGBTQ+ community to ensure America finally lives up to the promise on which it was founded: equality for all. He's promised to provide the moral leadership to champion equal rights for all LGBTQ+ people, fight to ensure laws and institutions protect and enforce gay rights, and advance LGBTQ+ equality globally. Specifically Joe Biden has said he will:
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Joe Biden has pledged to work with all federal agencies to ensure the equal treatment of
same-sex couples and their children in the application of all federal programs, services, and social benefits.
Throughout his career in public service, Joe Biden has championed equality, justice, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people and built a record of unmatched progressive action, including eight years standing shoulder-to-shoulder with former President Barrack Obama. |
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Among their many achievements during the 8 years that Barrack Obama and Joe Biden were in office are:
Achieving Historic Health Care Reform with Nondiscrimination Protections. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was and is a big deal. Because of Joe Biden's efforts achieving historic health care reform, 100 million people no longer have to worry about being denied coverage because they are LGBTQ+ or charged higher premiums because they have a pre-existing condition like HIV. Passing The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. In 2009, Vice President Biden and President Obama championed and signed into law this historic legislation, which expanded the nation's hate crimes law to include crimes based on one's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Promoting Safe Schools and Preventing Bullying. In both his career and private life, Joe Biden has championed equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth. In 2010, he participated in the "It Gets Better" campaign to offer support for LGBTQ youth struggling with their identity. As a private citizen after the White House, Joe and Jill Biden founded the Biden Foundation which, in part, was dedicated to ensuring LGBTQ+ equality through campaigns such as "As You Are", which promoted understanding and acceptance among youth and their families. Launching the First Comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy. In 2010, the Obama-Biden Administration launched the nation's first comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy. The strategy was updated throughout the Administration and implemented "to address the disparities faced especially by gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities and transgender women of color". Unqualified Support for Same-sex Marriage. On May 6, 2012, in a historic interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Joe Biden became the highest-ranking American official to support marriage equality when he declared that love is love. Three years later in 2015, the Supreme Court agreed and ruled in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges that the freedom to marry is a fundamental right. With the changes made to the Supreme Court in the last two years that ruling, like so many others that protect Americans, such as the Affordable Care Act are still at risk. The love and happiness shared by over half a million same-sex couples is still under threat, but this US President will undoubtably fight to protect those rights of citizens. | |
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