Biden will protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination
Biden has made many campaign promises to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ
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Context
Half of LGBTQ+ Americans live in states without adequate civil rights protections. They can get married on Sunday and the very next day get fired under state law because of who they are or who they love. LGBTQ+ people still face discrimination in nearly every aspect of their lives, including employment, military service, starting a family, and obtaining a driver’s license with their accurate gender marker.
The Argument
Biden has promised the following:
Immediately reverse the discriminatory actions of the Trump-Pence Administration and then go further to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. Biden will:
Nominate and appoint federal officials and judges who represent the diversity of the American people, including LGBTQ+ people. He will ensure that leaders across the federal agencies are committed to fully enforcing our civil rights laws for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Protect LGBTQ+ individuals from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Reaffirm that the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Ensure enforcement of Title VII and work to pass the Equality Act to affirm that employment discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation is prohibited.
Support transgender and non-binary people in the workforce. He will also provide incentives for states and local governments to adopt programs that help prepare transgender and non-binary people for the workforce and encourage entrepreneurship.
Stop employment discrimination in the federal government. The federal government should lead by example. Biden will restore full implementation of President Obama’s executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors, which Trump has undermined.
Treat LGBTQ+ service members and veterans with the respect that they deserve.
Reverse the transgender military ban.
Reverse Department of Defense policies that perpetuate stigmatization of and discrimination against people living with HIV.
Support LGBTQ+ veterans. Biden’s plan for veterans calls for addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ veterans. As President, he will direct his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that wraparound services provided under the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ veterans experiencing homelessness.
Support the freedom to build and protect families. On May 6, 2012, in a historic interview on Meet the Press, Biden became the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to support marriage equality.
End the misuse of broad exemptions to discriminate.
Reinstate protections for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness.
Support LGBTQ+ seniors.
Affirm one’s gender marker and expand access to accurate identification documents.
Ensure blood donation procedures are based on science. [1]
Counter arguments
"Biden’s actual record, spanning over 40 years in Washington, instead shows a politician who spent his entire career attacking gay people and the LGBT community. From his persistent opposition to gay marriage, to continued support for regimes that murder homosexuals, and even suggesting gay people might be “security risks” as federal employees, Biden’s open support for LGBT rights arrived very late, even among Democrats, and well after great advances toward LGBT equality had already been made."[2]