Vice-President Joe Biden Calls For Passage Of The Equality Act Speaking At Human Rights Campaign Dinner

Giving robust and unequivocal support to the LGBT community, Vice-President Joe Biden delivered the keynote address at last night's Human Rights Campaign gala in Washington, D.C. last night.

Via Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade:

Vice President Joseph Biden, who delivered the keynote address at the dinner, touted the significance of the court ruling on marriage, but also turned toward other issues relevant to the LGBT community.

“The great arc of justice is the journey of this nation, and it continues to move in the right direction,” Biden said. “We’re moving closer and closer to the animating spirit of America because of all of you, not me, because of all of you.”

Although he’s previously articulated support for comprehensive legislation prohibiting anti-LGBT legislation, Biden took the opportunity of his speech to explicitly endorse the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“I strongly support the Equality Act, and it will pass, it will pass,” Biden said. “It may not pass this Congress. It will pass because it’s simple and it’s straightforward.”