Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar praises America on St. Patrick’s Day as leader of ‘LGBT equality’

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar hailed America as a leader in ‘LGBT equality’ and ‘marriage equality’ during his brief remarks Friday, St. Patrick’s Day, at the Vice Residence. Presidential in Washington, DC.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Varadkar described himself as belonging to the “LGBT community”. He celebrated Vice President Kamala Harris’ opposition to Proposition 8, a 2008 California ballot proposal to amend the state constitution to legally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Varadkar said:

As physicians and proud members of the LGBT community, allow us to say how inspired we have been by your personal advocacy for marriage equality – particularly regarding Proposition 8 – and also your defense of the Affordable Care Act, from Stonewall to Sacramento to San Fransisco.

America has led the way in LGBT equality. I don’t think I would be here today without what America has done. I know you have been such a strong ally to our community in this regard. Thanks for that.”

In addition to applauding Harris’ support for the Affordable Care Act, he praised the Biden administration’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We are thinking of the extraordinarily brave people of Ukraine, who have endured more than a year of suffering at the hands of the Russian invaders, and we stand with them for as long as it takes,” Varadkar said.

The Irish Prime Minister concluded: “Russia’s war is a threat to the international order on which we all rely. It is an affront to human decency, and we will work together to hold its perpetrators to account. Thank you for the leadership the United States has shown on this issue, and thank you, Madam Vice-President, on behalf of Ireland and all of Europe for your leadership on this most important issue.

Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter @rkraychik.