GLAAD MARKS 100TH ENTRY IN ITS BIDEN ACCOUNTABILITY TRACKER: 100 APPOINTMENTS, POLICIES AND STATEMENTS TO ADVANCE EQUALITY FOR LGBTQ AMERICANS IN THE ADMINISTRATION’S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is marking the 100th entry in the GLAAD Biden Accountability Tracker, an ongoing documentation of the Biden Administration’s appointments, policies and statements to support LGBTQ Americans, as the admininstration begins its second year in office.

The GLAAD Biden Accountability Tracker, which launched following the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, can be read here.

Additional GLAAD analysis here.

Highlights include:

• The first out lesbians nominated and confirmed to the federal bench, Alison Nathan, Beth Robinson and Charlotte Sweeney, among 83 first-year nominations. 80% of those confirmed so far are women, with 53% being people of color.

• First out Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; first out transgender person confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Health and first female four-star admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr. Rachel Levine; highest-ranking out transgender person to serve in the Defense Department, Shawn Skelly; first out lesbian and first woman of color to serve as Under Secretary of a military branch, Gina Ortiz Jones; first out commissioner of the largest federal law enforcement agency, Customs and Border Protection, Chris Magnus.

• First U.S. passport issued with a gender-neutral ‘X’ marker, an option to be offered to all routine passport applicants in early 2022. 

• Reinstatement of transgender military personnel; first policies to include full transition benefits to trans military veterans; benefits eligibility offered to LGBTQ veterans forced from service under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

• Reinstatement of protections and expansion of coverage for transgender people seeking healthcare and housing.

• Departments of Justice and Education file statement of interest to protect transgender students from discrimination; department leaders issue public statements and videos to defend students and teachers and encourage them to report acts of bias.

• Appoints two out leaders for U.S. AbilityOne Commission, which administers one of the nation’s largest sources of employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities, Gabe Cazares and Chai Feldblum.

• Creates strategy to end HIV by 2030, to include prioritizing reforms to outdated laws criminalizing HIV status and $267 million funding increase to improve access to treatment, use of PrEP to prevent HIV and ensure access to services free from stigma and discrimination

• First out White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, dressed in Spirit Day purple in the White House briefing room, describes Spirit Day’s power of visibility for LGBTQ youth: “I could only hope that young people who might be watching or see clips of this briefing will know that they are supported and represented in the highest levels of government today.”

• Invites out transgender teen and GLAAD 20 Under 20 honoree Ashton Mota to speak and introduce President Biden at the White House Pride reception; both President Biden and Vice President Harris tweet support for LGBTQ Americans on Pride as well as on Transgender Day of Remembrance and throughout the year

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:

“From Day One, with a simple update to the White House website asking for people’s pronouns, President Biden and his administration have opened doors for LGBTQ Americans and demonstrated unprecedented commitment to ending discrimination and urging full equality in every area of society. It’s a 180 degree turnaround from the previous administration’s more than 200 attacks on LGBTQ Americans. In appointing out leaders, in creating and implementing policies to advance equity, in verbal and visual statements of support, the Biden administration is including, celebrating and demanding 100% acceptance for all LGBTQ people. Every member of Congress must follow President Biden’s lead and secure protections against discrimination into law by passing the Equality Act. Every state and local leader must speak up for their LGBTQ neighbors and pass laws to secure their right to live in safety and contribute fully to their states’ success. GLAAD recognizes the remarkable progress made by the Biden Administration for LGBTQ Americans and calls on voters to choose pro equality candidates and demand all elected officials commit to doing more to keep our country moving forward.”