As if there needs to be anything else at stake in next week’s presidential election, Joe Biden has publicly pledged to prioritize passing the LGBTQ rights legislation known as the Equality Act during his first 100 days as president should he win. He also made a commitment to tackle LGBTQ rights overseas by placing equality at the center of his diplomatic endeavors.
Speaking with the Philadelphia Gay News, the Democratic candidate and former vice president laid out his case for supporting the queer community.
Though he’s previously voiced support for the Equality Act, it’s notable that he’s willing to address equality so early in his potential administration, especially with all the other pressing issues facing the country.
“I will make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority during my first 100 days – a priority that Donald Trump opposes,” Biden told Philadelphia Gay News publisher and longtime queer rights activist Mark Segal.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: WATCH: Cher pays powerful musical tribute to Joe Biden
Trump, who loves to talk about what a blessing he is to LGBTQ people, has opposed the legislation, arguing it could “undermine parental and conscience rights” including the so-called religious liberty issue.
The Equality Act passed in the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in 2019, only to die in the Republican-led Senate.
The law would give protection to U.S. citizens from any discrimination based on sexual identity and gender identity by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which currently protects from discrimination based on race, religion, sex and national origin.
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Cam
Countdown to the Republican troll accounts coming in trying to do anything to deflect from the fact that Biden said he would pass LGBTQ civil rights legislation within the first 100 days.
Openminded
Call me what you may, Cam, I’m not dissing Biden, but every Presidential hopeful has made 1st 100 day promises they can’t possibly know if they can keep. I’m sure he will attempt to pass this legislation, but the fact is still there that with the new SCOTUS, nothing short of Constitutional Amendments will guarantee LGBTQ+ equality. Stacking the court with additional justices is not really feasible either and I personally don’t agree with that tactic. I don’t believe any party needs to start “getting their way” by simply adding more judges, no matter how much I may believe their way is right. It may work for now but eventually the Conservatives will regain power and then they will just add on more judges of their choosing. We then end up with NO balance of powers.
o.codone
@CAM. Dude, you remember Eduardo1985. Back in the day he was the first to post on every “article” every single time. And, he commented on every post multiple times. So, yeah I’m calling you out as Eduardo1985.
We found out later that Eduardo was in prison and had nothing else to do except meticulously scour this site and post multiple, multiple, multiple comments. We get it. It’s tough to be you. But, once again, just like you did the last time, you’re ruining Queerty (wait…another time).
So, please reel it in. BTW, only half of what you say makes any logical sense. Maybe it’s all the time in the hole. Reel it in dude,
Chrisk
o.codone
Actually it was manny1985 and he was a cable repairman who lived in or near North Hollywood as I recall.
dhmonarch89
well- unless the Democrats regain the Senate, it won’t pass. McConnell won’t let it come to a vote.
nunya
In one hundred days Biden won’t even remember what he said or that he even ran for president. Lol.
WashDrySpin
You are an AHole…an internet Ahole
SeaCapp
Or maybe he could take Trump’s mental acuity to ensure that he can correctly identify a giraffe or an elephant. Doesn’t it just make you sleep well at night knowing that our president is capable of identifying animals, and saying his ABCs? hahahahaha
Cam
AWWWW, the Trump trolls are STILL trying to deflect from Trump’s meltdown and obvious health issues by attacking Biden.
We get it, you desperately need to deflect from the fact that Biden supports LGBTQ civil rights and Trump and Republicans don’t.
Kangol2
“‘Person woman man camera….’ Ivanka, what’s the fifth one? Ivanka, Melania, Barron, somebody, help me!”
Openminded
Lighten up guys. If you can’t chuckle at that, you are being way too uptight. Nobody would call him an Ahole if he had an equally funny slam for Trump.
Liquid Silver
That’s great, but he’s also going to need to expand the Supreme Court in the same period or they’ll just say “No, go away, it’s totally illegal to have equal rights in this country.”
WashDrySpin
Yes he should add more judges if the Senate flips
LumpyPillows
Joe is the reason we have marriage. If its a blue wave, I fully believe Joe will come through on his promise.
GaysForTrump
LumpyPillows,
In 2008 Joe Biden was AGAINST gay marriage. Him and Sarah Palin agreed on the VP debate stage that gay marriage should not be recognized legally.
And this article is poorly written.
Under the Trump Administration:
Protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 now extend to LGBT workers following the U.S. Supreme Court decision of June 15, 2020.
Supreme Court on June 15 issued a landmark ruling, saying Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from employment discrimination.
Consolidating multiple cases, the 6-3 ruling affirms that federal employment protections cover LGBT employees.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act already banned employment discrimination based on:
National origin
Religion
Race
Sex
Now, the Supreme Court ruled that when it comes to “sex,” employment protections apply to LGBT individuals, as well.
Remind me again, what Biden would do differently than what’s already a law?
Trump did not push back the ruling. And fully supported the decision.
Trump 2020!!!
Gays for Trump.
*I am taking a screen shot of my comment.
Queerty deletes pro-Trump comments.
Talk about voter suppression. And violation of 1st Amendment Right.
Cam
@GaysForTrump
LOL!!!
Oh sweetie, nice try. You’ll have to remind me, was Ginsberg on the court when that decision came down? Yeah thought so. And did two of the Republican appointees attack same sex marriage in the concurrence? And are they now in the majority?
Also, remind me, under Obama/Biden, trans people could serve in the military. Can they still? That answer would be no, because the Trump administration changed the rule.
Now let’s talk about how your group tried to have a national meeting a few years ago and less than 12 people showed up.
o.codone
@gaysfortrump. Bravo dude! Tell it.
BTW, don’t spend even a minute refuting CAM. He was discredited about 6 years ago when he posted as Eduardo1985, as Queerty’s number one pain in the azz. Turns out he was in prison at the time (and maybe he still is). He had nothing else to do except harass and bother Queerty readers every day, every “article” every comment, every time.
Censorship is the new book burning. We know who burned books. Censorship happens here. Gay’s are even more intolerant than the National Socialists. (no CAM, I don’t mean the Bernie supporters). Hahahah.
Chrisk
GaysForTrump
CaposForTrump!!!! Woo hoo!!!!
Tombear
The orange turd has stated several times that we have turned a corner with Covid and there is nothing to worry about yet the statistics show we have more Covid cases than we’ve ever had. I won’t vote for that moron Trump and I’m wealthy.
Prax07
@gaysforturds Please do Everyone a favor and go wrap your cheeto stained lips around an exhaust pipe and breathe deep. People like you deserve to be hunted for sport.