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The presidential hopeful suggested public sentiment toward gay rights issues has come far in a short period of time, saying five years ago if someone at a business meeting in Seattle “made fun of a gay waiter” people would just let it go, according to a pool report of the event. The audience vocally responded to the remark and some in the crowd said homophobic comments would not have gone unchallenged even before five years ago, according to the report.
The event was hosted by public relations executive Roger Nyhus, who is known as a leader in the Seattle gay rights community.
Biden said if someone made homophobic comments today, “that person would not be invited back,” and said it was wrong that a gay couple could get married one day and get fired the next in 22 states because they lacked legal protections from job discrimination.
The former vice president said he told White House advisers at the time, “The American people are so far ahead of their leaders on this issue.”
Biden told the crowd that he recently visited the site of the Stonewall riots, and said, “Think of the incredible, physical, moral courage it took to stand up and fight back.”
Biden also spent a portion of his about 30-minute speech addressing Trump’s relationship with authoritarian leaders and the Trump administration’s impact on the country. He closed his remarks to applause.
Biden’s campaign hits some snags
“I do not believe you are a racist and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground,” Harris said to Biden. “But I also believe and it’s personal and it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senator who is built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.”
“It was not only that…” she continued. “There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day. That little girl was me.”
The Harris campaign raised more than $2 million in 24 hours following the debate, marking the single best fundraising day for the campaign since Harris entered the race in January, according to the Harris campaign.
“I heard and I listened to and I respect Sen. Harris,” he said at a Rainbow PUSH Coalition event in Chicago. “But, you know, we all know that 30 seconds to 60 seconds in a campaign debate exchange can’t do justice to a lifetime committed to civil rights.”
CNN’s Rebecca Buck, Grace Sparks and, Devan Cole contributed to this report.
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