President Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled Congress gave enormous consideration to LGBT people in 2022.

There were the perennial June Pride-related events held by other Democratic administrations. And President Biden signed an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase access to mental health services for LGBT youth and to eradicate the promotion of conversion therapies.

The White House distributed thousands of Mpox vaccines to cities with large Pride events taking place. At a White House Pride celebration in June, Biden said his administration has “more LGBTQ+ people than any administration or every administration combined –I really mean it.”   

Biden made many appointments in 2021, including the first openly LGBT cabinet member (Pete Buttigieg) and the first federal circuit appeals judge (Beth Robinson). In 2022, he promoted an openly LGBT person to be his chief spokesperson: Karine Jean-Pierre. In May, she became both the first Black person and the first lesbian to serve as White House Press Secretary.

In Congress, 10 years ago, there were only four openly LGBT members of Congress –all members of the U.S. House. By the end of 2022, that number had grown to 13. In the upcoming new Congressional session, there will be 11 openly LGBT House members (even though two incumbents lost re-election) and two senators. Having openly LGBT members in Congress have had an obvious positive impact on the community. They were crucial in pressing for the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act which helps protect the right of same-sex couples to marriage equality.

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