Joe Biden says same-sex marriage ruling most important since ending school segregation
US Vice President has said the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage is as big as Brown v Board of Education.
The landmark ruling in 1954 ended the practise of separate state schools for black and white students. Mr Biden said the judgement by the Supreme Court, due in June, on whether bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, is as important as that case.
He made the comments at an event for LGBT donors in Dallas, Texas. The event was attended by Mary Bonauto, an attorney who had argued in favour of same-sex marriage in front of the Supreme Court.
Mr Biden said, according to the Washington Blade: “If the Court does the right thing, this is going to be as consequential — and Mary is going to be as remembered — as Brown versus School Board and Thurgood Marshall. It’s that fundamental.”
Thurgood Marshall argued against school segregation in 1954 and was later the first African-American judge appointed to the Supreme Court.
Much of Mr Biden’s speech echoed other statements he has previously made on the fundamental nature of LGBT rights, as well as how LGBT rights should be considered more important than cultural or social traditions.
He said: “Culture cannot be used as an excuse to denigrate, to persecute, to take advantage of another human being on any basis.
“Because whether it’s about violence against women, or it’s about LGBT community, or it’s cultural differences — these really are — not a joke — they’re our brothers, they’re our sisters, they’re our classmates, they’re our neighbours, they’re our friends.
“We’re changing the conversation in this country — literally changing the conversation in this country. Eleven years ago, discrimination against same-sex couples was considered really good politics.
“Even some of our friends on the other side of the aisle they don’t find it so appropriate these days.
” As long as I have a breath in me, I will not be satisfied till every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, is afforded the dignity, and the freedom, and the equality that my father spoke of so clearly.”
