Until yesterday, injection of transgender issues into the 2016 presidential campaign had been solely the province of Mike Huckabee and his fantasies about invading women's locker rooms.

That has now completely changed.

Hillary Clinton spoke at a Human Rights Campaign breakfast yesterday morning...and Joe Biden spoke to the same group of people last night.

Transgender people are valued, they are loved, they are us.

--Hillary Clinton

[Clinton] vowed to do more to curb violence against transgender people, particularly African-American women, and urged the military to reverse its policy and allow transgender Americans to serve in the armed forces.

Having the world’s strongest military doesn’t just mean having the best-trained forces or the biggest arsenal.

It means being a leader on issues like this.

--Clinton

Mr. Biden called transgender rights “the civil rights issue of our time” and also expressed his support for allowing their service in the military.

Love is not a political matter; it’s a basic human right. The fact that we recognize that, it’s because of you.

--Joe Biden

I see the injustices and dangers that you and your family still face. I am running for president to end them once and for all.

--Clinton

Both Clinton and Biden called on Congress to pass he Equality Act.

Both speakers also attacked the Republican presidential candidates.

You turn on the TV and you see a Republican candidate for president literally standing in the courthouse door in Kentucky.

Ted Cruz slammed a political opponent for marching in a pride parade. He clearly has no idea what he’s missing.

--Clinton

We’re going to face some ridiculousness especially from our friends in the GOP. In fact it’s already begun. Ben Carson says that marriage equality is what caused the fall of the Roman Empire.

--Clinton

If any one of them heaven forbid were ever to be elected president, they will do their best to threaten you and their families. Every single Republican candidate for president is against marriage equality. Every one of them. Many of them are against anti-discrimination laws. Many are against same sex couples adopting.

--Clinton

There are homophobes still left, most of them are running for president, I think.

--Biden

‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is over. But that doesn’t change the fact that more than 14,000 men and women were forced out of the military for being gay.

--Clinton

Both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Biden expressed support for the Obama administration’s policy that reverses dishonorable discharges given to people because of their sexual orientation.

That was Bill, and it was a different time

That was some unfortunate legislation. But the important thing is that she admits it.

--Ellen Griffith