ABOVE: Reggie Greer is LGBTQ+ vote director for the Biden campaign. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
As LGBTQ+ vote director for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, Reggie Greer has his work cut out for him.
After all, he’s charged with marshaling LGBTQ support for the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate amid a deadly coronavirus pandemic and tremendous unrest over racism and police brutality.
In an interview with the Washington Blade June 8, Greer said he relies heavily on his upbringing and passionate belief in inclusion in confronting the challenges he faces in the 2020 election.
“I am a gay Black man who grew up in the South and has been lucky and fortunate to have been impacted and influenced by many LGBTQ leaders and my parents and teachers, who really instilled in me that kindness and inclusion and the power of your own voices is something that you ought to cherish,” Greer said. “And I think every day in this role, given that this campaign cycle has been so unique, I’ve leaned in on that.”
Greer, who’s 33 and remains a D.C. resident, is charged with serving as liaison between the Biden campaign and the LGBTQ community — a role that involves conference calls and highlighting issues important to LGBTQ people, such as passing into law long-awaited federal LGBTQ non-discrimination protections in the form of the Equality Act.
In a prior role, Greer was director of community engagement for the LGBTQ Victory Institute, where he served as point person for the nation’s more than 850 openly LGBTQ public officials.
Although Greer declined to say whether Biden would name his Cabinet members before Election Day, including any LGBTQ appointments, Greer pledged Biden “will prioritize the appointments of LGBTQ people in an administration.”
Bolstering Greer’s work is “Out for Biden,” a newly created steering committee in the Biden campaign that seeks to motivate the estimated 11 million LGBTQ adults to vote for Biden.
Among the goals for “Out for Biden” is strengthening collaboration across intersectional lines, honing communications for a cohesive movement and providing unprecedented access to our country’s most prominent LGBTQ+ leaders.
High-profile LGBTQ members of “Out for Biden” include Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.); Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David; Mara Keisling, executive director, National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund; and Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims.
Greer said the LGBTQ steering committee would be welcome to undertake campaign efforts to motivate LGBTQ voters in the 2020 election.
“Through ‘Out for Biden,’ which we launched today, we’ve been working to increase our efforts to collaborate with LGBTQ organizations and leaders at the local, statewide, federal level, to ensure that voters have the tools they need to be a part of the process, and also improve the communication between all these different entities that are doing really important work to register voters, get information to them about mail-in voting, to get them involved in some of the local races and statewide races and that also are important to ensuring that we have a pro-equality government up and down the ticket,” Greer said.
Read the full interview with Greer:
Washington Blade: Let me start off with a very basic, but important question: Who is Reggie Greer?
Reggie Greer: Who is Reggie Greer? That’s a very good question. I’m glad that you started off there. I am someone who is deeply passionate about the future LGBTQ Americans have — and I want to be part of a growing movement of people trying to ensure that —
[Phone line disconnects, but Biden campaign calls again shortly after.]
As I was saying, I am deeply passionate about the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ issues, LGBTQ voices and want to be part of a growing movement that includes us in the increasingly diverse American electorate.
Vice President Biden has made it clear that LGBTQ people are a big part of his coalition and as someone that really values engagement, I’m really excited to bring this approach to this work.
I am a gay Black man who grew up in the South and has been lucky and fortunate to have been impacted and influenced by many LGBTQ leaders and my parents and teachers, who really instilled in me that kindness and inclusion and the power of your own voices is something that you ought to cherish.
And I think every day in this role, given that this campaign cycle has been so unique, I’ve leaned in on that. I leaned in on the idea that every person has a voice, and if any of us can fight to ensure those voices are heard, that’s what we ought to be doing.
Tell me about some of the specific goals you have as LGBTQ+ vote director for the Biden campaign.
Absolutely. I think, given the fact that our country is at a crossroad right now, and we have COVID-19 impacting our communities in so many ways, and this election season is so unique, the main goal is clear that LGBTQ people, no matter where they live, no matter their background, and pro-equality voters are able to not only interact with this campaign, but able to be a part of the electoral process in a way that’s substantive.
So, through “Out for Biden,” which we launched today, we’ve been working to increase our efforts to collaborate with LGBTQ organizations and leaders at the local, statewide, federal level, to ensure that voters have the tools they need to be a part of the process, and also improve the communication between all these different entities that are doing really important work to register voters, get information to them about mail-in voting, to get them involved in some of the local races and statewide races and that also are important to ensuring that we have a pro-equality government up and down the ticket. So, that’s the main goal is really to give voters the tools they need to be a part of this process.
I think many Americans, including LGBTQ people are increasingly concerned about racism and police brutality. How do you see that playing out in your role?
Absolutely. Systemic injustice, and racism are issues that we’re going to have to address head on, and we’re going to have to do it through leadership. Vice President Biden has spent his whole life fighting against systemic issues, and working to change the system in ways that benefit and work for everyone, and has shown this kind of leadership that we need to actually get things done.
Right now, as we speak, the vice president is down with the family of George Floyd, paying tribute to his life and really bringing comfort to a nation that can’t understand why we don’t have leadership now willing to address these issues head on.
When we look at COVID-19, which is another problem that is complex enough, not to be solved by through rhetoric and bluster, but really requires someone to understand how government works, requires that you need experts at the table to get things done. Vice President Biden has really leaned in on ensuring that he’s surrounded himself with the people who know how to get things done.
And I think for me, personally, again, as someone who’s Black, gay, has a disability, I know full well how important it is to have a government that values and includes diverse voices, appoints people to important positions within the government that can bring those lived experiences to these very tough issues. And the promise really of a Biden presidency is something that we’re working on now, as a campaign which is including as many voices from around the country as possible, so that we can have a government that that sees us, that includes us, and fully represents us.
How has the coronavirus hampered your work personally?
So, the campaign has completely shifted digital, and even through the launch of “Out for Biden,” we are empowering LGBTQ people and those who support our campaign to engage virtually.
For now, because this is the main priority is ensuring that people remain safe and keep their attention on caring for those around them. Of course, organizing virtually has been challenging but it’s certainly opened up the campaign in a way that has allowed us to reach across the country faster and people, the kinds of conversations that we’re having around all the issues that we care about.
In this time, I feel like we’ve been able to raise raise awareness faster through some of the roundtables that we’ve hosted. The last national call that we did was on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ people. And the people who watched were from all across the country, and after the call, and after any of the virtual events that we’ve done, I’ve gotten messages from all across the country talking about how they’ve shared that with their networks and with their friends and their neighbors and their family members.
So, this is a very interesting time to do electoral organizing virtually, but certainly you know we’re leaning in on trying to get the vice president’s message out there as far and as wide as possible.
Because I do think LGBTQ people know what’s at stake. There are 11 million eligible LGBTQ voters around the country, there are millions more pro-equality voters, and they see this administration for what it is. They understand that this government has intentionally attacked transgender Americans, has rolled back protections for LGBTQ youth, has diminished our standing in the world on LGBTQ equality, and they are also leading and responding to the call to get out the message of not only our campaign but for everyone really fighting for LGBTQ equality.
That’s part of the reason why I’m hopeful, I think LGBTQ people because we are in every other community, quite literally understand how to build coalitions better than any other community and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Four years ago, Hillary Clinton was the first presidential candidate to march in a Pride parade. Of course, Biden won’t have the same opportunity. What has been under discussion about ways Biden could recognize Pride?
That is good you asked that. Obviously, given the moment that we’re in, we’ve been really respectful of things that we’re rolling out, but please stay tuned. We have a lot of exciting Pride initiatives coming up. Today, the launch of “Out for Biden” being the start of that.
I think we’re trying to ensure with all plans the rolling out from Capitol Hill and from the campaign around racial equity, around the economy, plans around how to continue to address the impact of COVID-19, we certainly have been working with each other to figure out when best to roll everything out, but please stay tuned, we’re going to have some pretty fun announcements about how we’re going to mark Pride Month.
Because, again, the vice president has spent his entire career fighting for LGBTQ people, and he was the highest-ranking official to come out in favor of marriage equality when he did in 2012 and as a private citizen has made LGBTQ equality, a priority through making it one of his hallmark pillars at the Biden Foundation and starting initiatives like “As You Are.” And even on this campaign, the plan that he rolled out, the plan to advance equality is comprehensive and really will push the well-being and equality forward if we can get Joe Biden elected as president. So stay tuned for some announcements, I promise you they’ll be great.
Can you give us a flavor of what they’ll be?
I can’t right now. I would love to, but I can say that we’re thinking about what I was talking about earlier, the intersection of our community, and the diversity within our community, uplifting the voices of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, folks of color, youth and veterans and people who are small business owners, artists, advocates, activists. We’re really now as a program thinking through how to do that effectively, but throughout Pride Month, we’re certainly going to be featuring all of our community.
You’re pretty close to Biden. Do you have a favorite memory of an interaction with him or anecdote along those lines?
I do, I do. The vice president has a level of empathy and has the amazing ability to care for people. His ability to empathize with people I think this is — it can’t be matched by very many other people, and it’s something I really value about him as a person, and as a leader.
And I was talking to him about LGBTQ equality, just as in preparation for an event and he stopped me and he said this is something I really want to do. This is something — this is what I want to make the hallmark of my administration. And I think that shows that he has a level of commitment to LGBTQ equality, that is paramount.
Also, thinking about the recent passing of Aimee Stevens. In some of the folks that whenever he was asked about it, whenever he was attending an event, he had attempted to call her, but unfortunately she passed earlier in the day and you could tell that her death has impacted him, but he really took time to talk through her legacy and why her passion and her commitment to fighting that should be something that all of us should be inspired by, something that deeply touched me because it demonstrated not only who he is as a person, but that he has always been a leader and who he will be as president.
Any day now the Supreme Court is going to rule on LGBTQ rights. Is the Biden campaign doing any contingency planning for possible outcomes in that decision?
We are actively monitoring the Title VII rulings, and as with any decision that the Trump administration may be coming coming down with. Specifically for Title VII, we have been very grateful to be working with LGBTQ movement leaders to understand the scope and impact of those rulings potentially and will be ready on decision day to inform and to help be a part of talking about what we need to do moving forward after the decision.
I think more than anything, the vice president believes in respect and dignity for all people, including LGBTQ workers, and I think for all of us, we ought to be thinking about the kind of country that comes after the Title VII rulings because really the decision is in our hands. The ultimate decision is in our hands. And this is why this election is so important in fighting to create an America that’s inclusive and includes everyone, and the vice president’s made passing the Equality Act, and advancing LGBTQ legislative priorities central pieces of his plan to advance equality.
In doing so, we have the beginning of what will be our response, not only as a campaign, but hopefully as an administration. And, we will most certainly be ready whenever the Supreme Court rules and we are monitoring this very, very closely.
Can you divulge the details about the talks you’ve had with advocacy groups about the decision like, who was involved and what possible things were considered?
I think that very generally, it’s just informative, getting information from movement leaders who can help us shape the outcome but until the decision comes down I wouldn’t want to say.
Let’s talk about appointments. Is the campaign considering a unity Cabinet, or naming a diverse set of Cabinet members ahead of the election?
The way I would answer it is the president has to make 4,100 appointments. Going back to my time at the Victory Institute, federal appointments has been something I’ve been passionate about for a very, very long time, and Vice President Biden’s made a commitment to ensuring that this administration reflects the diversity of America that’s including making LGBTQ appointments. Under the Obama-Biden administration, 330 LGBTQ people were appointed to positions throughout the federal government, which accounts for around eight percent of all appointments, which may be higher than the population share, which demonstrated even then their commitment to ensuring that LGBTQ people have very important decision-making roles throughout the administration.
So, you know, while it’s too early to talk about Cabinet appointments, you can rest assured that Vice President Biden will prioritize the appointments of LGBTQ people in an administration.
Let’s talk a little bit about the Trump administration, which has built a significant anti-LGBTQ record? Which one of his anti-LGBTQ policies bothers you the most?
Where do we start? So, in thinking about the way the Trump administration has treated LGBTQ people. I always start with the appointees that President Trump has named. His government as taking an intentional approach toward protections for LGBTQ Americans and attacking LGBTQ people for the sake of doing it.
And thinking about restoring the soul of our country, really is prioritizing restoring a government that doesn’t do that, that sees people, that seeks to represent people, it doesn’t deceive people. So that that’s where I would start.
But I think what’s really troubling, for me, is the protection that the Trump administration has rolled back for trans Americans, thinking about access to health care, thinking about trans people serving in the military, and so forth and so on.
This administration has been willing to single out transgender Americans in a way that has been very troubling and personally upsetting to me, which is why in summarizing the Vice President’s plan, which is protecting LGBT youth, passing the Equality Act, making the U.S. a leader again on equality around the world. The summary of that plan, which is advancing, protecting and restoring protections for trans Americans is something I’m really excited about because we need to get our government back to a place where are fighting for all of us, especially our transgender siblings.
And then the second part is the attacks on LGBTQ youth, the disregard to the lived experiences, the bullying, the harassment that LGBTQ youth face, and this administration’s willingness to — everything from having the Education Department turn a blind eye to it, to ignoring it, not supporting bills that would ban conversion therapy. LGBTQ youth are completely ignored by this administration. I also think that is very troubling.
Well speaking of appointments, there is one in particular I want to ask you about, Richard Grenell, who was until recently the acting director of national intelligence. Trump reportedly told him that his appointment as acting DNI was important because he was the first openly gay Cabinet member. Do you think Richard Grenell’s appointment was important?
Here’s how I’d answer that question, Chris, I think that if you have spent your life prioritizing the well being of LGBTQ people and thought to honestly fight for and advance LGBTQ equality, that makes anyone’s appointment a big deal and even think about history or even thinking about people serving in key appointments, the real power comes when they prioritize and they embrace grace and what it means to really fight for members of our community.
Biden National Press Secretary Jamal Brown: We have time for one more question, just so you know.
Greer: So, I think that Vice President Biden will appoint LGBTQ people into positions that will not only be there. You will find people that will fight for LGBTQ people period.
Right, since I got one final question I’ll just smush two together here. What would be your message to disaffected Bernie Sanders supporters who are not inclined to vote for Biden, in terms of what is at risk for LGBTQ Americans if the vice president doesn’t win in November?
The way I’d answer it: I think LGBTQ people understand what’s at stake in this election, and they want to see a country that really includes LGBTQ people and gets us to a place where our people are reflected in the laws that are coming out of Washington.
And so, I think that they’re getting involved, and this campaign is going to continue to work as it has from day one, to include all voices, every LGBTQ voice matters. And I’m looking forward to the next five months and getting out there, certainly virtually but in any capacity party to include LGBTQ voices of all backgrounds.
[Brown later told the Blade he had signaled time for one last question because the two had an imminent next appointment.]
