By 365gay Newscenter Staff
08.23.2008 4:20pm EDT
(Washington) Barack Obama’s choice of Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate has been greeted with praise by LGBT civil rights groups.
During his career in Congress, Biden has a proven record of fighting for and supporting issues of fairness and equality, the Human Rights Campaign said Saturday.
“In selecting Senator Joe Biden as his running mate, Senator Obama has chosen a proven and effective advocate for fairness and equality that our entire community can be proud of,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.
“Senator Biden’s record in the United States Senate is one of support and understanding that has been unwavering throughout his career.”
Recently, Biden, as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, played an instrumental role in securing the passage of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), legislation which included Senator John Kerry and Senator Gordon Smith’s provision repealing the discriminatory HIV travel and immigration ban.
“His working across the aisle guaranteed that the Kerry-Smith provision was adopted. Furthermore, when opponents of the provision attempted to garner support to strip the provision from the bill, Senator Biden fought to keep the provision in the bill and helped secure the votes for PEPFAR’S final passage, said Solmonese.
“If the support Senator Biden has proven on our issues is any indication of the type of Vice President he will be than our community can be assured that Senator Obama has chosen a thoughtful and staunch advocate for equality as his closest adviser,” Solmonese said.
Gay Democrats who began their annual convention in Denver on Friday also were quick to praise the choice of Biden.
“With the selection of Senator Biden, Democrats now have a national ticket that is ready to lead our party to victory this November,” said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director of National Stonewall Democrats.
The selection won kudos from Obama’s former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton who called Biden “an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Obama-Biden ticket will bring the change the country needs, including a filibuster-proof Senate majority.