Hillary Clinton Speaks To Human Rights Campaign On LGBT Rights

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton addressed members of the Human Rights Campaign this morning, speaking passionately about LGBT rights.

From ABC News:

"Ben Carson says that marriage equality is what caused the fall of the Roman empire," the Democratic presidential candidate said to laughter during a breakfast at the LGBT rights organization's annual gathering in Washington, D.C.

Clinton then mentioned Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, which drew hisses and boos from the crowd gathered inside the grand ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel, and went on to challenge him to join her at a gay pride parade.

"Ted Cruz slammed a political opponent for marching in a pride parade. He clearly has no idea what he's missing. Pride parades are so much fun. I was marching in them back when I was first lady. You should join sometime Senator, come on," she said.

Both Carson and Cruz have said they believe marriage is between a man and a woman. ABC News has reached out to their campaigns for comment to Clinton's remarks.

"Hillary would have everyone believe she's been in favor of marriage equality since the fall of the Roman Empire," Carson campaign spokesman Doug Watts said. "When she's not lying, she's spinning!"

"We need to say with one voice that transgender people are valued, loved, and one of us," she said. "Transgendered people are still banned from serving ... that is an outdated rule. I support the policy review that Defense Secretary [Ash] Carter recently announced in the Pentagon. I hope the United States joins many other countries and lets transgendered people join openly.”

She later called out the Republican presidential candidates for ignoring the issue all together.

"See if you are ever in a forum with any of them, if you can get them to say the word transgendered," she said.

Speaking of The Equality Act, which has been introduced in Congress, which would outlaw discrimination against LGBTs in virtually every corner of society, Hillary said this:

"It's a noble piece of legislation that deserves to become the law of the land. As president, I will fight for it and I hope many of you will be with me when I sign it into law."