Apr 11
President Biden's Campaign Launches Outreach to LGBTQ+ Voters
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
President Joe Biden's reelection campaign isn't overlooking a major constituency that supported him in 2020, and could prove decisive this November: the LGBTQ+ community.
The president's "reelection campaign on Wednesday launched Out for Biden-Harris, a new national initiative aimed to mobilize LGBTQ voters," political news outlet The Hill reported.
The report detailed that among the initiative's programs are "a series of virtual organizing and training events focused on reaching new volunteers, especially in battleground states, by engaging surrogates from the community – like Virginia state Sen. Danica Roem (D) and former undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones."
"It will also include a virtual organizing call featuring actor Wilson Cruz, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson to mobilize supporters," the writeup noted.
Efforts from America's LGBTQ+ demographic included a volunteer force of "nearly 11,000 volunteers from the community" that helped Biden and Harris achieve victory, The Hill recalled.
The report cited Biden reelection campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, who declared, "LGBTQ+ voters are a force to be reckoned with."
"They were critical to our victory in 2020," Chavez Rodriguez added, "and they will be critical to winning again this November."
The campaign drew stark contrasts between the two frontrunners for the November presidential election, positing that "the Biden-Harris administration is the most pro-LGBTQ in history," The Hill relayed, and pointing to endorsements "by top LGBTQ organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Transgender Equality and Equality PAC."
A second Trump presidency, however, would spell disaster for LGBTQ+ Americans and their families, Chavez Rodriguez maintained, saying, "Donald Trump and his extremist allies are running to gut LGBTQ+ rights and erase history as their top priorities."
"LGBTQ+ Americans deserve leaders who will fight for every American's freedom and dignity," Chavez Rodriguez added.
A recent poll from GLAAD found that an overwhelming majority of queer Americans prefer Joe Biden to stay in the White House rather than see Donald Trump retake it – and that LGBTQ+ Americans feel highly motivated to show up on Election Day and make their voices heard.
"The poll found 94% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer registered voters are likely to cast their ballots in November, with 68% of them supporting Biden and 15% supporting former President Donald Trump," NBC News reported last month.
"In battleground states, Biden's support rises to 72%, while Trump's remains at 15%," the poll found.
"Candidates, parties, strategists and reporters are on notice about the power of the LGBTQ vote and the issues that should be demanding attention," NBC News quoted Sarah Kate Ellis, the head of GLAAD, as saying, "including our fundamental freedoms and everyone's safety and well-being."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
