Joe Biden to speak at gay rights convention

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden will deliver a speech this week to the nation's largest gay rights group.

The Human Rights Campaign says Biden will headline its annual convention on Friday in Washington. The group advocates for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Biden spoke at the group's annual gala fundraiser last year, and President Barack Obama has also spoken to HRC. The group endorsed the Obama-Biden re-election campaign, and has already started attacking likely 2016 Republican presidential candidates over their positions on gay rights issues.

Biden's 2012 disclosure that he supported same-sex marriage increased the pressure on Obama, who announced shortly thereafter that he had changed his position and now supports gay marriage. Biden has described gay rights as "the civil rights issue of our day."