A raucous crowd of thousands gathered on a chilly Tuesday afternoon to hear President Joe Biden sign gay marriage legislation into law, a joyous celebration tempered by the backdrop of a conservative backlash over gender problems.
“This law and the love it defends strike a blow against hate in all its forms,” Biden said on the South Lawn of the White House. “And that’s why this law matters to every single American.”
Kamala Harris recalls conducting a lesbian wedding in San Francisco
Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper both sang. Kamala Harris, the vice president, recalls conducting a lesbian wedding in San Francisco. Additionally, the White House aired a clip from Biden’s old television interview, in which he unintentionally ignited a political uproar by declaring his support for homosexual marriage. At the time, President Barack Obama had not yet approved the plan, and Biden was serving as vice president.
Biden jokingly remarked, “I got in trouble,” at the time. Obama publicly embraced homosexual marriage three days later.
The fact that lawmakers from both parties attended the ceremony on Tuesday illustrates the rising acceptance of same-sex partnerships, previously one of the most divisive topics in the nation.
Senator Chuck Schumer, D-New York, who is the majority leader in the Senate, wore the same purple tie to the ceremony as he did to his daughter Alison’s wedding. In the spring, she and her wife are expecting their first child.
“Thanks to the millions out there who spent years pushing for change, and thanks to the dogged work of my colleagues, my grandchild will get to live in a world that respects and honors their mothers’ marriage,” he said.
The gathering was informed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that “inside maneuvering only takes us so far,” and she thanked the activists for “your impatience, your persistence, and your patriotism” for providing additional momentum.
There was worry over the widespread adoption of gender-related policies at the state level
Despite the jubilation on Tuesday, there was worry over the widespread adoption of conservative gender-related policies at the state level.
Biden criticized the “callous, cynical laws introduced in the states targeting transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors who give children the care they need.” “Racism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, they’re all connected,” Biden said. “But the antidote to hate is love.”