Reggie Greer Named White House Senior Adviser on LGBTQ+ Issues

Reggie Greer, the Black gay man who was LGBTQ+ vote director for Joe Biden's presidential campaign, now has a job in the White House.

President Biden this week named Greer senior adviser on LGBTQ+ issues at the White House and director of priority placement in the White House's Presidential Personnel Office. He is one of more than 50 LGBTQ+ appointees in the Biden administration so far, and the administration is likely to top the record of 330 set over the course of President Barack Obama's tenure.

For the Biden campaign, Greer's duties included leading the Out for Biden effort, aimed at getting LGBTQ+ voters to the polls. Before joining the campaign a year ago, Greer spent more than three years as director of constituent engagement at the LGBTQ Victory Institute, which among other things provides training to current and future LGBTQ+ candidates and campaign workers and works to place out appointees in pro-equality presidential administrations through its Presidential Appointments Initiative.

He was previously deputy director of public engagement at the U.S. Department of Transportation, working with Secretary Anthony Foxx during Obama's administration. In 2016 he was appointed to Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser's LGBTQ Advisory Committee.

LGBTQ+ activists praised Biden's choice of Greer. "Reggie is a ray of sunshine in the conflict-driven world of politics and the respect and trust he's earned from LGBTQ leaders will make him an extremely effective adviser," Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund and Victory Institute, said in a press release. "He exemplifies the America United ethos, with a rare ability to bring diverse communities and interests together and rally them behind a common cause and vision. He will be invaluable as a bridge between the administration and the millions of LGBTQ Americans relying on President Biden to bring needed change to our nation. I am thrilled about his appointment and am eager to continue working together on moving equality forward for our community."

Arli Christian, campaign strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union, released this statement: "We're thrilled the White House is prioritizing LGBTQ issues by appointing Reggie Greer as LGBTQ senior advisoer. We look forward to working with Director Greer on our top ask of the Biden-Harris administration: an executive order updating the process by which federal agencies change gender markers on IDs. Over 67,000 people have signed our petition calling on the White House to issue this executive order, and we're excited to work alongside Director Greer in support of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people nationwide."

During the presidential campaign, Greer lauded Biden in an interview with The Advocate."Joe Biden spent his entire career fighting systemic injustice," Greer said. "He listens to people when they explain the types of systemic issues that they face."

"What makes this country great is that we include every voice in the political process," he added.