Former president Joe Biden delivered one of his most impassioned pro LGBTQ+ speeches to date at the Victory Institute’s 2025 International Leaders Conference in Washington D.C.
The event brought together more than five hundred elected officials, activists, and community leaders from across the United States and around the world.
Biden attended to accept the Chris Abele Impact Award, the organization’s highest honor, becoming the first former U.S. president to receive it.
In his remarks he warned that LGBTQ+ rights are under renewed threat from extremist movements seeking to roll back decades of progress.
He pointed directly at anti equality lawmakers and policies he described as cruel, dangerous, and fundamentally un American.
At the same time he told the crowd that the queer community has faced adversity before and has always risen stronger through collective action and solidarity.
His message was clear as he repeated the words “get up and fight back” to loud applause from the audience.
Biden highlighted attacks on transgender rights, book bans, and the targeting of queer youth as evidence of a coordinated effort to divide the country.
He argued that protecting LGBTQ+ equality is inseparable from protecting democracy itself because both rely on dignity, truth, and freedom.
The speech resonated deeply with attendees who described the moment as a necessary spark during a time of political uncertainty and rising hostility toward queer communities.
Many leaders at the conference emphasized the importance of local and state level LGBTQ+ representation, noting that record numbers of queer officials have been elected in recent years.
Biden praised those gains and said that visibility and leadership are essential tools in countering misinformation and hate.
The atmosphere in the room was a mix of urgency and hope as organizers urged attendees to take the message back to their communities and mobilize ahead of the coming election season.
For LGBTQ+ advocates the night served as both a rallying cry and a reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing and deeply connected to every level of government.
Biden closed his remarks with a call for unity and courage, urging queer leaders to protect one another, defend hard won rights, and keep pushing toward a more inclusive future.
The moment underscored the significance of political allies who speak directly and unapologetically in defense of LGBTQ+ lives at a time when many prefer silence.
As the conference continued the following day the energy remained high, fueled by Biden’s reminder that progress is possible when communities refuse to back down.