Even though he has stepped back from frequent public pronouncements since leaving office, his appearance signaled that he still intends to have a seat at the table in shaping America’s civil‑rights dialogue.
He was there to receive the Chris Abele Impact Award, a lifetime‑achievement style honor recognizing his administration’s efforts to expand LGBTQ+ representation in government and to codify protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
Many attendees recalled laws, executive actions, and symbolic gestures under his tenure, and there was a sense that even in a new political era, the work for inclusion must continue.
Biden began with a tone of determination. “We just have to get up,” he declared, voice firm, earnest.
“As long as we keep the faith … and remember who the hell we are.” The audience responded with nods, soft applause, and hopeful murmurs.
For a moment, it felt like the turning point of a renewed movement — a call to arms not with weapons, but with values: justice, dignity, equality, inclusion.
He spoke of resilience, of the hard‑fought victories won over decades, of the dream of a nation where every person — regardless of orientation, identity, or background — is treated with dignity and respect.
He evoked images of past struggles, hard lessons learned, and progress earned through persistence and courage.
He asked those gathered — advocates, lawmakers, and community members — not to yield in the face of adversity. “This is not the time to shrink,” he said.
“This is the time to rise. Get up, stand tall, and fight for what’s right.”
He framed it not just as a political fight, but as a moral one — a defense of the Constitution, of human dignity, and of the founding ideals that, in his view, still define America.
Then came the moment that changed the tone. What was meant to be a soaring crescendo instead became a viral stumble.
In what should have been a patriotic declaration, Biden — appearing visibly passionate — stumbled over the nation’s name: “We’re the United States of Amerigotit, that’s who we are! We’re the U.S.!” The room stilled.
A hush spread through part of the audience. Within seconds, the line was clipped, shared, and replayed on social media. The mispronounced “Amerigotit” echoed across platforms and news outlets.
The reaction was immediate and mixed. Some in the crowd glanced at each other; a few offered uncertain smiles. Others shifted uncomfortably.
For a public‑figure used to commanding stages, the slip was jarring. Cameras flashed. Smartphones captured shocked or bemused expressions.
Yet Biden didn’t skip a beat. After a brief pause — a look of concentration crossing his face — he recovered.
He returned to his message: the necessity of protecting civil rights, the threat posed by what he called efforts to “distort and derail our fight for equality,” and the urgency of standing up — again — against suppression and division.
He singled out the administration of Donald Trump and its supporters, accusing them of politicizing identity and weaponizing fear — turning human dignity into “something scary, something sinister.”
He insisted that the battle was simple at its core: “It’s about basic decency, dignity, and respect for every American.”
He pressed on, calling for unity, action, and commitment. “All of us are dismayed by the present state of the union,” he said. “But this is no time to give up.
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