Joe Biden believes that moderate Republicans, many of whom are not prejudiced, are being intimidated by far-right elements of their party from supporting stances that would protect LGBTQ+ rights. He expressed these views in an interview with the LGBTQ+ news outlet, the Washington Blade.
In the interview, Biden contrasted the current Republican Party with those he knew during his time as a U.S. senator, highlighting how the influence of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement has led to anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
Biden also criticized Donald Trump, calling him "a different breed of cat" and accusing him of being consistently anti-LGBTQ. Trump, now seeking a return to the White House in the 2024 election, has had a mixed record on LGBTQ+ rights.
While he claimed to support same-sex marriage during his 2016 campaign, his administration implemented policies that undermined LGBTQ+ protections, including stripping away protections for transgender medical patients.
In June 2023, three of Trump’s appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court joined a conservative majority in a ruling that weakened protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. The court ruled that a Colorado law requiring equal treatment of same-sex couples violated the right to free speech.
Meanwhile, Republican-led state legislatures have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, restricting students from expressing their gender, and limiting participation in gender-aligned sports teams.
Biden, without naming anyone, shared that many Republicans he knows are not prejudiced but feel pressured by the far-right factions within their party. He emphasized how supporting LGBTQ+ rights could invite backlash from the MAGA movement.
In contrast to Trump, Biden highlighted his administration's pro-LGBTQ+ efforts. He mentioned the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires states to recognize same-sex marriages, and a new FDA rule that allows gay and bisexual men to donate blood under certain conditions. Biden also pointed to his administration’s appointments of LGBTQ+ officials, such as Pete Buttigieg and Karine Jean-Pierre, and his executive order reversing Trump’s ban on transgender military service members.
Biden concluded the interview by stressing the abilities of transgender individuals in the military, stating, “They can shoot just as straight as anybody else."
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