“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, did I just hear Joe Biden, our President-elect, acknowledge transgender individuals and express his pride for us? Yes, I did! He became the first president to mention transgender people in his victory speech.
This recognition shouldn’t feel monumental, but it does. For the past four years, the previous president’s references to the LGBTQ+ community were often aimed at undermining our rights and protections. Trump actively sought to erase queer individuals, particularly transgender people, from public life. He began this erasure by eliminating all references to LGBTQIA+ individuals from government websites on his first day in office. He went on to ban transgender people from serving in the military and stripped away housing, healthcare, education, and employment protections for queer and transgender individuals. Biden seems poised to put an end to this harmful legacy.
While Barack Obama was the first to mention gay voters back in 2008, since then, politicians have often relied on safe phrases like “love is love” without truly addressing the complexities of gender identity and expression. Biden is different; he directly acknowledged the transgender community in his remarks.
In his speech, Biden also expressed gratitude to Latino, Asian, and Native American voters for their support. While diversity in race is often highlighted in campaigns, LGBTQIA+ topics are frequently sidestepped by politicians. This avoidance is usually a calculated decision rooted in bigotry or a fear of alienating voters, revealing hypocrisy rather than genuine allyship. It’s understandable why some politicians tread lightly; there’s only so much “diversity” that some individuals are willing to accept at once. For queer people, our identities are often seen as something to be tolerated in small, manageable doses.
I long for a time when lawmakers will actively advocate for the queer community by enacting more anti-discrimination laws. However, in the current climate, I find myself hoping for politicians who won’t actively work against my rights. It almost feels like asking for the bare minimum: acknowledge our existence but do so in a way that doesn’t worsen our lives.
When Biden spoke about gay and transgender people, it stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me — hope, excitement, and frustration that relief came solely from an external source. This is often the experience of being transgender; we live in a state of cognitive dissonance.
As a nonbinary individual, my existence is constantly scrutinized while I remain firm in my truth. I understand that biological sex does not dictate gender. I know gender is fluid. I am neither female nor male, despite societal expectations. I recognize that my identity is not defined by my body, my name, or my clothing, yet I often feel pressured to conform to societal gender norms to navigate daily life without feeling alienated from my own reality.
Picture living in a space where you are perpetually overlooked until it’s time for mistreatment. Or consider being so eager for acknowledgment that when you finally hear your name called, you experience a moment of joyful disbelief. That’s how I felt hearing the word “transgender” spoken respectfully on national television by our country’s highest official.
Healing from the trauma of the previous administration will take time. Trump not only challenged my and my daughter’s rights to live authentically as transgender individuals but also empowered his followers to perpetuate the notion that transgender people do not exist, even in a spiritual context. In his view, my very existence is a sin that necessitates repentance or exclusion from society, and he did everything in his power to enforce that belief.
Biden’s presidency offers a glimmer of hope for change. I noticed he used “folks” rather than “ladies and gentlemen” to address the crowd, which may simply reflect his casual speaking style, but I choose to believe it’s an attempt at greater inclusivity. Biden recognizes that transgender individuals are valuable contributors to society. He appointed Shawn Skelly, a transgender veteran, to his team tasked with evaluating the Department of Defense. This decision sends a powerful message to transgender military personnel about the respect and recognition they deserve.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is also demonstrating her support for the queer community. She has included her pronouns in her social media bios, nominated an openly Black lesbian as her chief of staff, and is learning to address the needs of transgender inmates who often lack access to gender-affirming care.
There’s a lot of work to be done, but this administration appears open to learning and making necessary changes. I anticipate that Biden and Harris will make mistakes as they strive to protect queer individuals, but what gives me hope is their commitment to surrounding themselves with LGBTQIA+ voices who will amplify our stories instead of speaking over us. I eagerly await more affirming acknowledgments in the coming years.
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In summary, my experience as a trans parent with a trans daughter has been marked by struggles for recognition and rights, but Biden’s acknowledgment of transgender individuals has provided a much-needed sense of validation. While there is much work to be done, I feel hopeful about the future as leaders begin to include and support the LGBTQIA+ community.