Former Vice President Joe Biden held a livestream on Twitter last night where he took questions from young voters. During the online event, he flubbed a question on LGBTQ rights.
Alabama Young Democrats President Josh Coleman asked Biden “why you thought it was important” to come out in support of marriage equality in 2012, before then-President Barack Obama did.
Related: 8 women Joe Biden should seriously consider for Veep
During his answer, Biden said that he did “not have to evolve at all” on the question of marriage equality, but he was inspired to speak out when he met two gay dads in 2012.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
“I showed up at an event- and doing an event when I was vice president, and it was in the home of a gay couple,” Biden said. “And I walked in the kitchen and met them first and they had two beautiful children, a little boy and a little girl.”
Then Biden made a little error: “And the way they loved their mommy and dad – two men, who were in fact really strong men and strong people – just impressed me so much.”
He said that he was asked about marriage equality at the event and he responded, “Love is love” and that everyone should be able to get married.
Less than a week later, he was on Meet the Press and was asked about marriage equality, and he said that he supported it, which led to a “ripple effect” as major Democrats started stating their support for marriage equality.
Before he talked about the event with the gay dads, Biden told another story that took place in the 1960’s.
He said that his father drove him downtown to get a job application to be a lifeguard when he was a teen.
“I saw these two men in the corner when I was getting out of the car, both well-dressed men in suits, lean up and kiss one another and then go their separate ways,” Biden recounted.
“And I turned and looked at my dad, and he said, ‘Joey, it’s simple. They love each other. It’s simple, Joey. They love each other,'” Biden said.
The question about marriage equality starts at around the 17:00 mark.
Alright @TeamJoe, join us for Happy Hour. Watch our virtual round table on the issues that matter to young folks: https://t.co/pFhYghw5dt
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 25, 2020
