Former President Joe Biden will receive the Chris Abele Impact Award on Friday at the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s 41st International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.—a gathering long considered a political pulse-check for LGBTQ+ Americans. For many advocates, the honor caps what they view as the most inclusive administration in U.S. history. Biden appointed a record number of queer officials, reinstated and expanded federal protections, restored transgender military service, and elevated leaders, including Pete Buttigieg, Admiral Rachel Levine, Ambassador Chantale Wong, and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Victory Institute President and CEO Evan Low said, “President Biden has shown unwavering commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ people can participate fully and openly in our democracy.” The award comes at a tense moment for LGBTQ+ people, especially trans Americans, under President Donald Trump’s second administration, as political aggression, misinformation, and state-sanctioned erasure accelerate. More than 700 leaders will attend the conference, as a record number of LGBTQ+ candidates prepare for 2026.
