President Joe Biden arrives at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Marietta, Ga., en route to Atlanta to attend the presidential debate. First lady Jill Biden speaks at a Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. President Joe Biden arrives at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Marietta, Ga., en route to Atlanta to attend the presidential debate.
As president, Biden has acted to protect the rights of gay and transgender people, such as reinstating antidiscrimination provisions eliminated by then-President Trump. Biden also ended a ban on transgender people serving in the military.By contrast, Trump has criticized what he calls transgender “insanity” and has said he would move quickly to reinstate the ban on their service in the military if reelected.
Winnie Stachelberg, a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, said Biden has always been about “meeting people where they are.” Police raids were frequent and usually generated little if any pushback. But when officers strode into the Stonewall Inn early on June 28, 1969, for the second time that week, customers and a gathering crowd outside confronted them with shouts of “gay power!” followed by hurled coins, bottles and more.