LOS ANGELES — Speaking to over 1,000 LGBT rights supporters at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles gala, March22 Vice President Joe Biden said the United States will be a world leader in the fight for LGBT equality.
His keynote address, which lasted 28 minutes, outlined the administration's commitment to stand up for the human rights of LGBT people around the world. His speech comes on the heels of anti-LGBT laws enacted in Russia, Nigeria and Uganda over the last year. Vice President Biden also issued an emphatic demand for Congress to pass ENDA now.
"The single most basic of all human rights is the right to decide who you love," Vice President Biden said in his remarks.
"Vice President Biden's inspiring remarks in support of global LGBT equality represent the latest step from a White House that has made fairness and dignity for LGBT people one of its top priorities," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "Vice President Biden made it clear that he will not be silent as LGBT people around the world are denied their human rights. As we celebrate new victories for equality here at home, we cannot look the other way as the governments of Russia, Nigeria, and Uganda put their LGBT citizens in the crosshairs. HRC is proud to stand with the Vice President because every person deserves their basic human rights, and no one should face execution, imprisonment or violence because of who they are or who they love."
In the last year, three countries have approved legislation that put their LGBT citizens in the path of danger. These countries, Russian, Nigeria, and Uganda, outlawed public support for equality. Nigeria and Uganda have outlawed the work of LGBT advocacy organizations like HRC. In addition, Uganda made same-sex relationships punishable with life imprisonment. After the anti-LGBT law was enacted in Nigeria in January, dozens of gay men were rounded up for arrest. And, in Uganda, as soon as their anti-LGBT law was enacted, a newspaper, the Red Pepper, began publishing photos of hundreds of LGBT people, marking them targets for violence, harassment, and arrest.
In November 2013, HRC launched its Global Engagement Program. The goal is fundamental fairness and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC is working toward that goal by calling out Americans, like Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage, for exporting their hate and intolerance abroad. HRC is collaborating with dedicated advocates across the globe to support their movements' objectives and grow the global equality movement. And HRC is strengthening its government affairs work, advocating for a strong U.S. foreign policy that supports the human rights of all LGBT people.
Vice President Biden's Top Lines from HRC Los Angeles Gala Dinner
LOS ANGELES — Last night Vice President Biden addressed over 1,000 LGBT rights supporters at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles gala. Below find the 15 top lines from his speech.
1 ) "All of you spoke out and stepped up and came forward, you came out and you marched, you demanded to be recognized, demanded your constitutional rights, demanded a basic American dream. You demanded respect. And because of what all of you have done, my granddaughter is going to grow up in a better country, a more just country, and a more fair country."
2 ) "Thank all of you, your actions not only liberated millions, millions, in the LGBT community, but here's the point you, I don't think you fully understand. You liberated tens of millions of straight guys and straight women. No-no. No-no, you have. You have. Those of you who are old enough, those of you who are old enough, 20 years ago, if four guys were sitting in a restaurant and there was a gay waiter and as he left the table, one of them made fun of it, the other three would remain silent. Not today. You freed them. You freed them to speak up, because now they know. They know they're not the exception, they know they're the majority. They know, because of you."
3 ) "And with regard to my being on Meet the Press, besides, I told the President, when he asked me to be Vice President, two things, I wasn't going to wear any funny hats, and I wasn't changing my brand. There's no way. I'm too old man. I'm too old, seriously, seriously. It's just, I, how could you remain silent anymore. You know, I have had, and I continue to have faith in the American people."
4 ) "My grandkids, my children, and their kids are going to be shocked, it shocks the conscious that this very moment in American history, in some states, an employer can fire you just because of who you are, or who you love. It's close to barbaric. I mean think about this, a man, no I really mean this. Imagine, imagine, 20 years from now, as America look back and say how in the hell could that have ever been allowed? The country's moved on. The American people have moved on, it's time for the Congress to move on, and pass ENDA. Pass ENDA now. Not tomorrow, now!"
5 ) "Well ladies and gentleman, the world — God willing — is beginning to change. To paraphrase Pope Francis of all things, but think about this, think about what he said. One sentence he uttered. To paraphrase him, "who are we to judge," — who are they to judge you or me?"
6 ) "In Jamaica, we hear about corrective rape for lesbian women. The world was outraged when we found out about genital mutilation that takes place in some African countries.
Corrective rape? What in God's name are we talking about? How can a country that speaks in those terms be remotely considered to be a civil society?"
7 ) "Find me a country in the world that singles out a set of citizens, and I'll guarantee you that country is where justice does not live."
8 ) "Uganda a nation where you can go to prison for life for so call aggravated homosexuality, whatever the hell that is. Aggravated homosexuality? Whoa. There's some sick people in the world."
9 ) "The single most basic of all human rights is the right to decide who you love. It's the single basic building block…it is. It is the single most important human right that exist… and hate, hate can never, never be defended because it's a so called cultural norm. I've had it up here with cultural norms."
10 ) "In every aspect, in every aspect of American foreign policy, we should have as the focus in our foreign policy that we lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. That's what makes us different. That's what makes us strong."
11 ) "Barack and I believe that the rights of LGBT people is an inseparable part of America's promotion of human rights around the world. It is not, it cannot, is not distinguishable it's a false distinction made in the past."
12 ) "And we're excited to work with you, the Human Rights Campaign through your new global engagement program to which you take the same passion and remarkable courage you brought to fighting for LGBT rights in this country to help people around the world."
13 ) "We're in the early days of a long, long fight, but you should never underestimate the epiphanies that follow a culture that makes a breakthrough of conscious."
14 ) "Thank you for not only liberating people who have been persecuted and pummeled, but thank you for getting us in the way of liberating all of America. It's a fight we will win."
15 ) "And as long as I have a breath in me, I will not be satisfied 'till everyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community is afforded the dignity, the freedom and the equality that my father spoke so clearly of."
Watch Vice President Biden's remarks at the HRC Los Angeles gala and read the transcript at www.hrc.org/biden. See the Youtube video at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
