Cher Helps Raise $2 Million in LGBTQ+ Fundraiser for Joe Biden

"Sink or swim, I'm with him, I'm ridin' with Biden. Sounds corny but that's what I said."

Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

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Mikelle Street

September 01 2020 9:27 AM EST

May 31 2023 4:12 PM EST

MikelleStreet

America, Cher wants you to snap out of it!

It's the first week of the general-election campaign, after virtual national conventions, and Joe Biden is back on the trail. For one of the first stops, the Democratic presidential nominee joined a private LGBTQ+ fundraiser, headlined virtually by Cher, that raised nearly $2 million according to reports.

"The guy is really an idiot," she said at one point during the broadcast according to AP News. She reportedly repeated the descriptor a few times during the night.

Pete Buttigieg, the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and the first out gay presidential candidate to win a state party caucus introduced the megastar performer saying that he was the "only thing between hundreds of prominent LGBTQ+ activists and Cher." He did not overstay his welcome.

Washington Blade reports that there were 500 attendees on the Zoom call.

"Hi, it's me," Cher said by way of introduction according to MSN. "Your poster girl since I was 9 years old. I walked into our living room and met two of the most adorable gay hairdressers ever."

Prior to the Moonstruck star, the fundraiser hosted Representative David Cicilline and Senator Tammy Baldwin, both out queer politicians. Biden also reaffirmed his commitment to signing the Equality Act during the event. If passed, the Equality Act would ban anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in a variety of sectors including employment, housing, and more. It is currently stalled in the Senate but Biden promises to make it a top priority of his first 100 days in office if elected.