On a brisk December evening in Washington, D.C., the annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference took on a historic tone as former President Joe Biden made a rare, impassioned appearance. His presence at the event—hosted by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute—marked the first time a former U.S. president had ever attended this gathering, and the standing ovation he received underscored the emotional weight of the moment.
Biden, who served as the 46th president until his departure in 2025, was there to accept an award recognizing his administration’s legacy of advancing LGBTQ+ policies and achieving unprecedented levels of LGBTQ+ representation in government. Yet, the former president’s remarks quickly pivoted from celebration to a clarion call, as he urged LGBTQ+ Americans and their allies to "get up and fight back" against what he described as a growing tide of demonization and division led by his successor, Donald Trump.
"This is no time to give up. Get up. Get up and fight back. Get up!" Biden proclaimed, his voice rising above the applause, according to HuffPost. He framed the struggle for equality as nothing less than a defense of the Constitution itself, asking the crowd, "What’s the fight all about? It’s about protecting the Constitution!"
During his 15-minute address, Biden revisited his own history of public support for LGBTQ+ rights, including his now-famous 2012 statement on NBC’s "Meet the Press" backing same-sex marriage—an endorsement that preceded then-President Barack Obama’s own by three days. "I got myself in a bit of trouble," he recalled with a wry smile. "But, good trouble." The audience, a mix of activists, elected officials, and community leaders, responded with laughter and knowing nods.
But Biden’s tone turned somber as he addressed the current political climate. He accused Trump and the MAGA movement of "trying to distort and derail our fight for equality," referencing what he called their "nonsensical demonization of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives" and "assault on transgender people." According to The Mirror, Biden told the crowd, "Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are trying to distort and derail our fight for equality. They’re trying to turn it into something scary, something sinister." He argued that these tactics were designed to stoke fear among parents and religious communities by spreading falsehoods about queer and trans people.
"Folks, it’s really not about anything that’s all that complicated. At its core, it’s about making every American, giving the opportunity to be treated with basic decency, dignity and respect they all deserve. That’s what every single American deserves," Biden said, emphasizing that the notion of equality is as American as the country’s founding ideals. "There’s nothing more American than the notion of equality. Nothing, nothing, nothing."
He went further, arguing that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is inseparable from broader issues of opportunity and economic justice. "It’s about opportunity. It’s about making sure every American has a chance to make a decent living. It’s about having equal access to quality healthcare, making it affordable. They can pay any rent, send their kids to college, and pay for the grocery bills," Biden said, according to The Mirror. He invoked a personal anecdote, recalling his father’s words: "Can you look your child in the eye and say it’s going to be OK?"
As Biden spoke, the emotion in the room was palpable. Several attendees were visibly moved, and one person seated near a HuffPost reporter was overheard whispering, "This is what we lost," a poignant reference to the tumultuous 2024 election that saw Biden step aside, Vice President Kamala Harris take his place, and Trump ultimately win a return to the White House.
Biden’s message to young LGBTQ+ people was direct and heartfelt: "There are young people sitting home alone as I speak, literally behind closed doors, scrolling through social media, staring at the ceiling, wondering… whether they’ll ever be loved, will ever marry, will ever have a family, ever truly be accepted for who they are," he said. "So my message to young people is this: Just be you. You are loved. You’re heard. You belong, you belong, you belong."
Before leaving the stage, Biden called on all LGBTQ+ elected officials in attendance to stand and be recognized, thanking them for their contributions. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," he told the room. "Think of what you’ve done."
While the evening largely focused on the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights, the former president did not shy away from addressing the nation’s economic anxieties—a topic increasingly linked to political fortunes on both sides of the aisle. Biden noted that Americans are "most interested in affordability," echoing concerns that have dominated both Democratic and Republican talking points in recent years.
Recent polling data suggests that these economic worries are having a real impact on political allegiances. According to a Politico poll conducted by Public First between November 14 and 17, 2025, nearly half of all Americans—46%—reported that the current cost of living is the worst they can remember. Notably, 37% of 2024 Trump voters agreed with that assessment, signaling cracks in the former president’s base. The poll, which surveyed 2,098 U.S. adults, also found that 46% of respondents held Trump and his administration responsible for the ongoing affordability crisis.
Despite these numbers, Trump has sought to deflect blame, dismissing the term "affordability" as a "Democrat scam" and touting his own efforts to bring prices down. Yet, as The Mirror points out, Americans appear unconvinced by these arguments, with some of Trump’s "softest supporters" reportedly reconsidering their allegiance as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
For Democrats, the poll results are both a warning and an opportunity. While economic discontent cuts across party lines, Biden’s speech suggested that the fight for equality and the struggle for economic justice are deeply intertwined. Other Democratic leaders, taking note of the shifting political winds, have increasingly woven affordability and access to quality healthcare into their messaging alongside traditional civil rights themes.
In the end, the former president’s appearance at the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference was more than a nostalgic look back at his administration’s achievements. It was a call to action for a community and a country facing renewed challenges—political, cultural, and economic. As Biden told the crowd, "This is no time to give up. Get up. Get up and fight back. Get up!"
The room’s standing ovation was not just for the man, but for the enduring spirit of a movement determined to keep fighting—no matter the odds.
