Once again, Indiana Governor Mike Pence has stumbled while answering a question about LGBT nondiscrimination laws. Instead of answering a question asking if he thinks LGBT people deserve employment protections, the governor talked about protecting anti-gay religious beliefs.
The first term governor signed the controversial “religious freedom” law surrounded by religious right activists last year, spurring outrage across the nation. Pence bumbled his way through multiple interviews as he refused to admit the bill was meant to allow discrimination against LGBT people and kept trying to defend the law. After business leaders and celebrities publicly condemned the law and thousands protested in the streets of Indianapolis, the governor signed a “fix” to the law that didn’t really fix much of anything.
Freedom Indiana has kept the pressure on Pence as he continues to stagger through the controversy. During his yearly State of the State address, Pence refused to provide leadership and instead punted the issue back to the legislature with a warning that he wouldn’t sign anything that “infringed upon the religious liberties” of homophobic Christians. At townhall events and during press conferences, Pence has also stammered responses that skirt the issue without actually saying he thinks discrimination is wrong.
Pence’s appearance at a recent townhall event with constituents didn’t go any better after someone in the audience asked him about the issue.
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“I’d like a simple yes or no answer,” the questioner said. “Do you think gay and transgender people should be able to be fired from their jobs just for that reason?”
Watch as Pence avoids the question while continuing to tout his commitment to allowing people to discriminate based on religious beliefs.
Watch below.
H/t: LGBTQ Nation
Dino Diamantakos
Because it’s extremely difficult to admit (out loud) to yourself and others that you’re a raging bigot. :/
Bauhaus
This is exactly what any Republican in the Oval Office would say and do. Most likely, much worse. Yikes.
Brett Moore
That’s because he’s a coward. He makes me ashamed to live in Indiana.
Brian Fisse
There is no discrimintion against LGBT people that I’ve ever heard of and if there is they brought it on themselves.
Tom Gulley
That’s funny. He talked to me about it at length.
http://thetomgulleyshow.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-mike-pence-interview-podcast.html
Dusty Hansard
Good for him. Don’t let idiots drag you into their mess.
Tiffany Tail
Indiana is a backwater HELL. I count the seconds until i can escape this bleak nightmare of conservatism and alcoholics
Miles Lee
Mike Pence has wrecked Indiana! He’s the worst governor Indiana has ever had.
Melinda K White
Pence makes it where I am embarrased to admit I even live in Indiana
Harvey Cade
But republican are great leader’s let them tell it they wreck every thing they touch and people still vote for these clown losers.
Shannon Rolicheck
His inability to answer is the answer. He believes in discrimination.
Kevin Turnbaugh
Well, what did you expect him to say? In today’s world of thinking, you get your butts shot off no matter what you say about the LGBT. They will scream about something, whether the Gov stands up for them, against them, or as he did defers decision to the legistlators. Those who are really discriminated against in the USA are we who have a handicap, limiting our abilities; but you do not see any of us making a$$’s out of ourselves. If you are going to deal with discrimination, then deal with all parts, not just those who insist on being abnormal, immoral, and unnatural.
Bauhaus
@Kevin Turnbaugh:
Americans with disabilities ARE a protected class, silly man, so, you are making an ass out of yourself. The only “abnormal, immoral, and unnatural” aspects of this debate are holdouts with personality disorders and self-loathing closet cases. Which are you?
Brian JC Kneeland
He will continue to discriminate as long as he can!
John Wayman
What a douche
Gary Strautz
He reminds me of Gov Walker. Same dead eyes that make you feel icky.
Roger Lee
Why do SOME people feel compelled to make their sexual orientation a matter of PUBLIC record?
Gene Hannan
Realitycheck
Toss him out of office by the trumpets of his ass!
Dale Skinner
Stefano
@Bauhaus: loll Love it !
robho3
Indian aid a deep red state- what do you expect
martinbakman
Maybe he was thinking about the times he svcked coq.
thealexofevil
“Religious freedom”. He keeps using those words. I don’t think they mean what he thinks they mean.