It was an Obama Administration reunion on Monday’s edition of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show as former Principal Associate Editor in the White House Office of Public Engagement Kal Penn kicked off his time as temp host by asking President Biden what he plans to do for “trans kids” who have deal with “regressive state laws” that Biden would describe as “close to sinful.”
Penn asked, “But my question for you, Mr. President, is you codified support for same-sex marriage and interracial marriages like ours. I'm curious what your evolution was like on marriage equality, and what the federal government might be able to do to protect LGBTBQ Americans, especially trans kids who are dealing with all of these regressive state laws that are popping up right now.”
Biden replied by going all the way back to 1961 and his high school days:
I was a senior in high school. And my dad was dropping me off and I remember, about to get out of the car and I looked to my right and two well-dressed men in suits kissed each other. I mean, they gave each other a kiss. And then one went, looked like he was headed to the DuPont building, one looked like he was going to the Hercules Corporation building. And I'll never forget, I turned and looked at my dad, he said, “Joey, it is simple. They love each other. It is simple. I'm not joking. It is simple. They love each other.
As for Penn’s other question, Biden specifically took aim at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, “What is going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. I mean, it is just terrible what they are doing. It is not like a kid wakes up one morning and says, you know, I decided I want to become a man or I want to become a woman or I want to change.”
Nobody said they do, still, Biden continued, “I mean, what are they thinking about here? They’re human beings. They love, they have feelings, they have inclinations that are -- I mean, it just, to me, is -- I don't know. It's cruel. And the way we do it is we make sure we pass legislation like we passed on same-sex marriage. You mess with that, you're breaking the law, and you’re going to be held accountable.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the closest thing Penn came to a tough question was when he asked Biden to speak to young people who want Biden to be “their champion” on climate change, but worry he's not going "far enough or fast enough"
This segment was sponsored by Red Lobster.
Here is a transcript for the March 13 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show
3/13/2022
11:22 PM ET
KAL PENN: I wanted to ask you a slightly different question. So my partner, Josh, and I, have been engaged for the last five years, which really only means that every auntie and uncle that I have is beyond disappointed that there has not been a wedding yet. But Cardi B is going to marry us, apparently officiate our wedding, which would be nice.
But my question for you, Mr. President, is you codified support for same-sex marriage and interracial marriages like ours.
I'm curious what your evolution was like on marriage equality, and what the federal government might be able to do to protect LGBTBQ Americans, especially trans kids who are dealing with all of these regressive state laws that are popping up right now.
JOE BIDEN: I can remember exactly when my epiphany was.
PENN: Okay.
BIDEN: I hadn't thought much about it, to tell you the truth and I was a senior in high school. And my dad was dropping me off and I remember, about to get out of the car and I looked to my right and two well-dressed men in suits kissed each other. I mean, they gave each other a kiss.
And then one went, looked like he was headed to the DuPont building, one looked like he was going to the Hercules Corporation building. And I'll never forget, I turned and looked at my dad, he said, “Joey, it is simple. They love each other. It is simple. I'm not joking. It is simple. They love each other.”
And it’s never been -- it has never been – it’s just that simple. It doesn't matter whether it's same-sex or heterosexual couple. You should be able to be married. What is the problem? So listen to your auntie and your uncle. Get married. Do it now. Don't wait.
And transgender kids is a really harder thing. What is going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. I mean, it is just terrible what they are doing. It is not like a kid wakes up one morning and says, you know, I decided I want to become a man or I want to become a woman or I want to change.
I mean, what are they thinking about here? They’re human beings. They love, they have feelings, they have inclinations that are -- I mean, it just, to me, is -- I don't know. It's cruel. And the way we do it is we make sure we pass legislation like we passed on same-sex marriage. You mess with that, you're breaking the law, and you’re going to be held accountable.
