VP Joe Biden gives some credit for shift in public attitude on gay marriage to “Will & Grace”

I just posted about Vice President Joe Biden supporting gay marriage for the first time – publicly.

Now I’d like to share something else he said in regards to gay marriage and why he thinks public attitudes have shifted: I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that is different and now they’re beginning to understand.”

Will & Grace stars Eric McCormack and Debra Messing both took to Twitter to react to Biden’s comment.

Wrote McCormack, an outspoken proponent for gay marriage for many years: “Three cheers for VP Joe Biden! Fantastic interview. Now who ELSE is gonna step up?”

Wrote Messing, currently starring in NBC’s Smash: “I could not be more proud. Thank you Mr. Vice President for yer support and yer words about W&G. #humbled”

Sean Hayes released this statement:  “On behalf of everyone who worked on ‘Will and Grace’, we thank Vice President Biden for his comments regarding our show as well as his support for equality for gay Americans and everyone in the LGBT community.”

GLAAD President Herndon Graddick released this comment about Biden: “Today, Vice President Biden took an important step toward joining former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney, and a growing majority of Americans who support marriage equality for their gay and lesbian friends, family and neighbors. It is significant that Vice President Biden spoke about the importance of Will & Grace in his journey toward acceptance, since we know that the media plays a key role in helping people understand that denying any loving couple the chance at happiness and security that comes only through marriage is not only hurtful, it’s downright un-American.”