President Joe Biden criticized a wave of anti-trans legislation from Florida Republicans, calling their efforts to ban gender-affirming care and enact other anti-LGBTQ policies “cruel” and “almost sinful.”
In Monday’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Actor and former Obama administration staffer Kal Penn spoke with Biden about his support for LGBTQ rights.
Republicans across the country have deployed an arsenal of anti-LGBTQ legislation, including bills to ban drag performancesblock trans athletes to play on school teams, and bar discussion about sexuality and gender identity in schools.
Florida Republicans, with the support of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, have focused on diversity efforts at the school and expanded the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” law he signed last year. DeSantis has also attacked gender-affirming care for trans youth, and the flowery house He has proposed banning drag shows.
“What is happening in Florida is, as my mother would say, almost sinful,” Biden said. “I mean, it’s just terrible what they’re doing.”
The president also referred to the policies as “cruel.”
“It’s not like, you know, a kid wakes up one morning and says, ‘You know, I’ve decided that I want to become a man, or I want to become a woman, or I want to change.’ I mean, what are they thinking? They are human beings. They love. They have feelings,” Biden said, advocating that federal lawmakers pass legislation that would counter restrictions like those being passed in Florida and other Republican-controlled states.
“If you mess with that, you are breaking the law and you will be held accountable,” Biden added.
Penn also asked Biden how he came to support same-sex and interracial marriages, of which he signed into law.
“My dad was leaving me (in high school). I remember I’m about to get out of the car and I look to my right. Two well-dressed men in suits kissed,” Biden told Penn. “I will never forget it, I turned and looked at my dad. He said, ‘Joey, it’s simple. They love each other.’ … And it’s that simple.”
