President Joe Biden has slammed a wave of anti-trans legislation from Florida Republicans, calling efforts to ban gender-affirming treatment and enact other anti-LGBTQ policies “cruel” and “close to sin.”
On 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 legislation against the LGBTQ community, including bills to ban the public. drag performanceblock trans athlete from playing in the school team, and bar discussion about sexuality and gender identity in school.
Florida Republicans, with support from Republican governor Ron DeSantis, has targeted diversity efforts in schools and expanded the famous “Don’t Talk About Gay” law that came into force last year. DeSantis has also attacked gender-affirming treatment for trans youth, and Florida House have proposed banning drag shows.
“What happened in Florida, as my mother said, was close to a sin,” Biden said. “I mean, it’s just terrible what he did.”
The president also called the policy “cruel.”
“It’s not like, you know, a kid wakes up one morning and says, ‘You know, I’ve decided I want to be a man, or I want to be a woman, or I want to change.’ I mean, what are they thinking? They’re human. They love. They have feelings,” Biden said, encouraging federal lawmakers to pass legislation that would counter the ban as implemented in Florida and other Republican-controlled states.
“You messed up, you broke the law, and you will be held accountable,” Biden added.
Penn also asked Biden how he supports same-sex and interracial marriage — both of which he signed into law..
“My father took me there [in high school]. I remember getting out of the car and I looked to the right. Two well-dressed men, kissing,” Biden told Penn. “I’ll never forget, I turned and looked at my dad. He said, ‘Joey, it’s simple. They love each other.’ … And it’s just that simple.”