President Joe Biden & First Lady Jill Biden to Attend Human Rights Campaign National Dinner

by Aryn Fields •

President Biden to Deliver Keynote Address & First Lady Jill Biden to Deliver Remarks. Honorees include Actors, Writers and Cultural Icons such as Shonda Rhimes, Lena Waithe, Matt Bomer & the Organizers of the Trans Youth Prom.

The Human Rights Campaign announced today that President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, will attend its annual National Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, October 14 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. President Biden will be delivering the evening’s keynote speech and First Lady Jill Biden will also deliver remarks.

We are incredibly excited, and humbled, to welcome President Biden and the First Lady to our National Dinner. The Biden Administration has been exceptional advocates and change-makers for LGBTQ+ people across this country and the world. Despite the truly monumental steps the Biden Administration have made for LGBTQ+ equality, like lifting the blanket ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood, enforcing non-discrimination laws to protect LGBTQ+ people, and signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law, our community is living in a state of emergency—full stop. It is up to all of us to combat this hate and show anti-LGBTQ+ extremists the growing power of our community.

Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President

This will be President Biden’s fourth time attending the HRC National Dinner. He gave the keynote address in 2013, 2015 and 2018, demonstrating the enduring commitment the President has shown to the LGBTQ+ community. The President and First Lady will join other nationally renowned speakers, such as HRC President Kelley Robinson and the 2023 honorees, who include:

  • Prolific and award-winning television writer and producer, Shonda Rhimes, will be honored with the National Equality Award, which recognizes the outstanding efforts of those who use their voice to publicly stand up for the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Emmy-winning actor, writer and producer, Lena Waithe, will be honored with the Visibility Award, which recognizes LGBTQ+ leaders that represent living openly and authentically in all facets of her life.
  • Matt Bomer, Golden Globe-winning television and film actor, will be honored with the Impact Award, which recognizes members of the LGBTQ+ community that are dedicated to championing and advocating for queer issues in every corner of their life.

In addition, the four transgender kids and teenagers, Grayson McFerrin, Libby Gonzales, Hobbes Chukumba, and Daniel Trujillo, who organized Trans Youth Prom will receive a special recognition at the National Dinner for their roles as undeniable forces for transgender justice in their communities and on the national stage.

REQUEST MEDIA CREDENTIALS: Due to limited space, only members of the media who have been credentialed in advance will be allowed entrance. For media interested in being credentialed, please RSVP here.

Contact Us

To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.