Despite calling GOP Vice President Pence a ‘good guy’…..
(Pence has said some unkind things about the openly gay Democratic candidate Pete Buttiieg…)
Joe Biden is working to keep past good will with the gay community….
Joe Biden is courting the LGBTQ community, aiming to win support in a crowded field of Democrats including Pete Buttigieg, the openly gay mayor of South Bend, Ind.
Biden, whose public support for gay marriage as vice president famously put him in front of then-President Obama, will speak at a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) dinner in Ohio this weekend.
He’s expected to remind attendees of his leadership on marriage equality in addition to his support for hate crime protections.
“I’m sure he’ll make it known that he was the one who announced his support for gay marriage and carried President Obama over the line with him,” said one top Democratic fundraiser, who is gay. “He earned a lot of goodwill for that and the community hasn’t forgotten.”
The HRC dinner is a good place for the reminder since a number of high-profile Democrats will be in attendance.
“That room is packed with Democratic donors so it’s good for his communication, good for his politics and good for fundraising,” said one Democratic strategist who is not affiliated with any campaign.
Ahead of Pride Month in June, Biden’s campaign unveiled rainbow-themed campaign T-shirts and other gear — something a number of Democratic presidential campaigns have done in recent weeks.
The campaign T-shirts point to the heavy competition for gay voters, said more than a dozen LGBTQ donors, strategists and activists interviewed by The Hill.
Biden faces competition not just from Buttigieg but from Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Kamala Harris (Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), who advocated for LGBTQ rights, including the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” as a senator.
Biden has earned goodwill in the community by launching a campaign through his foundation last year aimed at boosting the acceptance of LGBTQ youth by their families. He also spoke at the HRC dinner in Washington last year….
Note….
Vice President Joe Biden has officiated a gay wedding, a first for the early proponent of same-sex marriage.
Biden presided over the union of Joe Mahshie and Brian Mosteller, both longtime White House aides. The White House says the couple asked Biden to officiate….
image….abcnews.go.com