US president Joe Biden, first lady Dr Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff watch the virtual presidential inaugural prayer service in the State Dining Room of the White House 21 January, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Getty/ Alex Wong)
On Thursday (21 January), Washington National Cathedral hosted Joe Biden’s inaugural prayer service, and it was the most “LGBT-inclusive in history”.
In 2013, Barack Obama’s inaugural prayer service featured the first-ever openly LGBT+ clergy member to take part, reverend elder Nancy Wilson of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
But the Biden-Harris administration went far further, with the live-streamed service featuring five LGBT+ faith leaders, a performance from a gay icon, and including LGBT+ people in the main sermon.