Biden Speaks to Human Rights Campaign: ‘Outrageous We’re Even Debating’ Gay Discrimination

Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles gala on Saturday on all the achievements scored by the gay rights movement in the past few years, calling on Congress to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, saying employers firing people for sexual orientation is “close to barbaric.”

Biden, who famously came out strong for gay marriage on Meet the Press, heralded everyone who “paid a personal and a professional price for stepping up and speaking out,” and helped not just gay people speak up but also straight people, because now defending gay and lesbian people is the norm instead of the outlier.

He touted the passage of a hate crime prevention act and the defeats of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, and used the opportunity to push the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, remarking that it’s “outrageous we’re even debating” discrimination and calling such anti-gay policies “close to barbaric.”

Watch the full speech below:

[h/t E! Online]

[photo via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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