Joe Biden Condemns Anti-Trans Legislation During Daily Show Interview

Out actor Kal Penn sat down with President Joe Biden for an interview for The Daily Show, and when the topic of gay marriage and anti-trans legislation came up, he quickly condemned the cruelty of the right — and discussed how he plans to push back.

Penn began by asking about same-sex marriage and when Biden’s beliefs on the subject of marriage equality evolved. “My partner Josh and I have been engaged for the last five years, which really only means that every auntie and uncle that I have is beyond disappointed that there hasn’t been a wedding yet,” said Penn. “Mr. President, you codified support for same-sex marriage and interracial marriages like ours. I’m curious what your evolution was like, on marriage equality and what the federal government might be able to do to protect LGBTQ Americans, especially trans kids who are dealing with all these regressive state laws that are popping up right now?”

Biden shared that his beliefs about marriage equality began at a surprisingly young age. “I can remember exactly where my epiphany was,” he recalled. “I was a senior in high school. And my dad was dropping me off. I remember I was about to get out of the car and I looked to my right, and two well-dressed men in suits kissed each other....[I turned and] looked at my dad. He said, ‘Joey, it’s simple. They love each other.’” With that “simple” statement, he became a believer in marriage equality and he encouraged Penn to head down the aisle. “So listen to your auntie and your uncle. Get married. Do it now,” Biden said.

The conversation then turned to what’s happening around anti-trans legislation, particularly the laws that target trans kids.

“What’s going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. It is just terrible what they are doing. It’s not like a kid wakes up one morning and says, ‘You know, I decided I want to become a man or I want to become a woman or I want to change. I mean, what are they thinking about here? They are human beings. They love. They have feelings. They have inclinations that are…it just to me, is, I don’t know, it’s cruel.”

Bidemn’s plan, he explains, is to pass legislation like that passed on same-sex marriage. “You mess with that you’re breaking the law, and you’re going to be held accountable,” says Biden.