“I’m proud of the campaign we built and ran, I’m proud of the coalition we put together — the broadest and most diverse coalition in history […] gay, straight, transgender….” Wait a minute. Did I just hear Joe Biden, the President-elect, acknowledge the existence of transgender individuals and express pride in us? Absolutely. He was the first president to mention transgender people during his victory speech.
It shouldn’t be a monumental event to receive recognition, but it felt significant. Over the last four years, any reference to the queer community from the previous administration was aimed at diminishing our rights and protections. Trump actively sought to erase the legal existence of queer individuals, particularly transgender people. He initiated this erasure by removing all mentions of LGBTQIA+ individuals from government websites on his first day in office. He has since banned transgender individuals from serving in the military and stripped away essential protections in housing, healthcare, education, and employment for queer and transgender people. Biden seems determined to reverse this harmful trend.
Obama was the first president to acknowledge gay voters in 2008. Since then, politicians have often relied on safe platitudes like “love is love,” but genuine support for our identities and the fluidity of gender expression has been rare. Biden’s acknowledgment of the transgender community was a historic first.
In his speech, Biden also expressed gratitude to Latino, Asian, and Native American voters for their support. While racial diversity is often highlighted in campaigns, many politicians avoid LGBTQIA+ topics, likely out of fear of alienating voters or due to prejudice, which makes them hypocritical rather than true allies. I understand why some liberal leaders choose this path; there’s only so much “diversity” that some people can handle at once. The reality is that queer individuals and our identities are often only palatable in small doses. Heaven forbid we be seen as people with emotions and knowledge about our own identities.
I long for lawmakers who actively fight for and protect the queer community by enacting anti-discrimination laws. Yet, the best I can hope for is politicians who will refrain from infringing on my rights. It seems like a stretch to ask for the bare minimum: to see us without making our lives worse.
When Biden acknowledged gay and transgender individuals during his speech — and, by extension, me and my transgender daughter — I experienced a whirlwind of emotions. I felt a flicker of hope that a bit of fear and anger might dissipate. I was excited yet frustrated that my relief came from an external source, a familiar feeling for many transgender individuals. Living in a constant state of cognitive dissonance is exhausting.
As a transgender person, particularly as a nonbinary individual, my existence is often up for debate while I stand firm in my truth. I understand that biological sex and gender are not synonymous. I recognize that gender is fluid. I know I am neither female nor male, despite societal expectations suggesting otherwise. I constantly grapple with aligning myself to societal constructs of gender to navigate my day without feeling like an outsider in my own body. It’s disheartening how strangers can make me feel foreign in my own reality.
Imagine living in an environment where you are constantly ignored until it’s time for your mistreatment. Or consider being so eager for acknowledgment that when you finally hear your name called, you look around in disbelief. That’s how it felt when “transgender” was spoken with respect on national television by the highest-ranking official in the country.
Healing from the trauma inflicted by Trump will take time. He didn’t just challenge my and my daughter’s rights to live authentically; he enabled his followers to perpetuate the narrative that transgender individuals are not real, especially in religious contexts. My existence has been framed as a choice, marked by sin, and I should either repent or be ostracized. Trump did everything in his power to enforce this narrative.
Biden’s administration marks a hopeful change. I noticed he often addressed the crowd using “folks” instead of “ladies and gentlemen.” While it may have been a casual choice, I believe it was an effort to be more inclusive of all genders. Biden recognizes that transgender individuals are valuable contributors to society. He appointed Shawn Skelly, a transgender veteran, to his team evaluating the Department of Defense. This move can be seen as both a rebuttal to Trump and an acknowledgment of the mistreatment faced by transgender military personnel. While it’s not a complete solution, it’s a step forward.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is also demonstrating her support for the queer community. She includes her pronouns in her social media profiles, nominated an openly Black lesbian as her chief of staff, and is actively learning about the needs of transgender inmates who often lack access to gender-affirming care.
There are many injustices to rectify, but this administration appears willing to learn and adapt. Mistakes will undoubtedly happen as Biden and Harris strive to support queer individuals, but I find hope in their commitment to surround themselves with LGBTQIA+ voices, amplifying our stories rather than speaking over us. I eagerly anticipate more inclusive acknowledgments over the next four years.
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Summary:
In this article, I share my emotional response to President Biden’s acknowledgment of transgender people in his victory speech. The recognition felt significant after years of erasure under the previous administration. As a trans parent to a trans daughter, I reflect on the importance of visibility and support from leaders. The article discusses the ongoing struggles within the LGBTQIA+ community and the hope inspired by the current administration’s willingness to be inclusive and learn from past mistakes.