VP Nominee Joe
Biden to Address HRC Dinner

With Barack Obama's campaign continuing its outreach to LGBT voters, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden is expected to speak at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner this weekend in Washington, D.C.

Biden's decision to speak comes on the heels of the Obama camp's landmark policy call discussing the Democratic presidential ticket's opposition to "don't ask, don't tell." Biden has long supported a repeal of the policy.

"If the support Senator Biden has proven on our issues is any indication of the type of vice president he will be," HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement just after Biden was added to the Democratic ticket, "then our community can be assured that Senator Obama has chosen a thoughtful and staunch advocate for equality as his closest adviser."

Biden returned the compliment, expressing his support of the HRC in a statement.

"I'm honored to participate in this event," Biden said. "Discrimination has no place in this country and I am proud to stand with HRC in the fight to end it."

In recent years Biden served as one of the most vocal advocates of repealing the U.S. ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants in the latest renewal of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Biden has also vocally opposed "don't ask, don't tell" and the Federal Marriage Amendment. Additionally, Biden supports extending hate-crimes and job bias protection to LGBT people. (The Advocate)