Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality

by Sarah McBride

When I was coming out to close friends and family, I had wanted to come out to Beau personally, but given his national profile, I held off on reaching out, worried that I would burden him. Instead, Beau learned about my news through my public coming-out note. That evening, I got a call from him. “Sarah,” he started. I was struck by his seamless adoption of my new name. “It’s Beau. I just saw your coming-out note.” He was driving with his wife, Hallie, and wanted to call to express his love and continued friendship. “I’m here with Hallie and we just want you to know that we love you, we stand with you, and you are still as much a part of the Biden family as ever. This doesn’t change anything.” A few weeks after my meeting at the governor’s office, I reached out to Beau to get together, catch up, and talk about the gender identity nondiscrimination bill. I told him we’d need his help to push back on the lies that would inevitably come from our opponents. I worried that bringing up the counterarguments to our bill might cause Beau to beg off, not wanting to get into the middle of a controversial fight. But he was unequivocal in his support and his willingness to help. “Just let me know what you need,” he assured me.