President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been acknowledged for their efforts in advancing equality for LGBTQI+ Americans. The White House has recognized the administration's accomplishments as a significant step towards pro-equality measures.
One of the notable achievements is the enactment of the Respect for Marriage Act, which provides federal recognition of marriage for same-sex and interracial couples. This legislation repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and strengthens civil rights protections, ensuring equal treatment for all families.
In October 2024, the Department of Defense completed a review of discharge records for service members affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." As a result, 96% of individuals who received less than honorable discharges due to their sexual orientation now have an honorable discharge. Additionally, President Biden issued a pardon for former service members convicted based on their sexual orientation.
The administration also established the LGBTQI+ Community Safety Partnership in June 2023. This initiative involves collaboration between various departments to provide safety resources to LGBTQI+ organizations. Ahead of Pride Month 2024, key security resources were released to support these communities.
The Food and Drug Administration introduced a new policy ending identity-based restrictions on blood donation by gay and bisexual men. Instead, individual risk-based questions are used to assess donor eligibility.
President Biden signed several executive orders from day one aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. These orders have led to numerous actions advancing civil rights for LGBTQI+ Americans.
A revised National HIV/AIDS Strategy was launched by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, setting new targets to end the HIV epidemic with transgender people included as a priority population. The ¡Adelante! Summit was convened to address HIV in Latino communities where Latino gay men represent a significant number of new cases.
The administration appointed historic LGBTQI+ leaders across various roles including Cabinet Secretary positions and ambassadorial ranks. Protections against discrimination in healthcare, education, grantmaking, and foster care were strengthened through finalized rules by different departments.
To tackle mental health challenges among LGBTQI+ youth, crisis counseling services were added to 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. New clinical guidelines were issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focusing on reducing sexually transmitted infections among vulnerable groups.
Efforts were made to address book bans affecting works by or about LGBTQI+ individuals through community-based trainings led by a Coordinator appointed by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
On an international level, steps have been taken under President Biden's direction to promote human rights globally for LGBTQI+ people and encourage decriminalization efforts in various countries like Uganda.
