Former Vice President Mike Pence gave a speech at the University of Virginia yesterday evening. During a Q&A session at Old Cabell Hall, Charlottesville, a student asked, “I’m just wondering if one of your children came out to you as gay, how would you respond? What would you tell them?”
You can watch a C-Span video of his response below, from the 55,38 mark.
Pence replied, “I’d look them in the eye and tell them, ‘I love you.’”
The audience applauded, and Pence continued, “Let me say on this issue … if we got to know each other, you’d know the Pences love everybody. We treat everybody the way we want to be treated.
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“But on this issue, and it’s frankly something that when the Obergefell decision was made which legalized same-sex marriage in America, the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy wrote at the end, that this decision will likely create an intersection and tension between people in same-sex relationships and people in the exercise of their religious liberty.”
Pence said there had been an ongoing debate for the past seven years over religious freedom on the issue, and he saw a need to go back to “first principles”, where congress did not make laws “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion.
“Look, I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, I believe in traditional marriage, and I believe marriage was ordained by God and instituted in the law, but we live in a pluralistic society, and the way we go forward, and the way we come together as a country united, I believe, is when we respect: Your right to believe and my right to believe what we believe.”
Related: WATCH: Donald Trump tells gay supporters: “You don’t look gay”
Although claiming the Pences love “everybody”, the former VP did not show much love for trans athletes during his speech.
He said the UVA swimmer Emma Weyant had been unfairly deprived of a title at the NCAA championship last month by losing to transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
“Weyant won that race,” Pence said, before going on to criticize President Joe Biden’s stance on trans rights.
“I know that in his State of the Union address President Biden promised to stand for the God-given right of men to compete in women’s sports, but common sense needs to reign and it will reign.”
Pence’s appearance was at the invitation of the Young America’s Foundation, a conservative organization. Last month, the University of Virginia’s college newspaper, The Cavalier Daily, blasted Pence’s planned appearance. In an editorial, the newspaper slammed Pence as a “homophobic, racist and transphobic politician” whose “hateful rhetoric’ should not be given a platform.”
The university defended its decision to host Pence, with a spokesperson telling the newspaper, “[The event] is not a University-sponsored event, but it fits well within the University’s academic mission to offer our community the opportunity to hear from, and engage with, leaders and experts from a wide variety of fields and perspectives.”
Related: That time Ireland’s proud gay prime minister shaded Mike Pence at a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast
Last night’s engagement saw a small protest against the event outside the hall, although Pence received a warm welcome from the largely conservative audience inside the venue.
Pence was Vice President during the Trump administration. Between 2017 and 2021, the advocacy group GLAAD kept a running count of all the Trump administration’s attacks on LGBTQ people. It totaled 181 by the time Trump left office, including his ban on trans people serving in the military and a move to allow federal employers to discriminate against LGBTQ just days before his departure from the White House.
Mister P
Same sex marriage has nothing to do with his religious liberty. I don’t get why he doesn’t understand that.
Chrisk
If you understand that most Christians like Pence are frauds and massive hypocrites then you can see the connection. It’s good to keep his base ie the loons and the batshit insane behind him though. Got those Potus ambitions after all. Ha ha.
stonercharles
Because Mike Pence believes that anything other than what He believes is wrong and an infringement on HIs rights to discriminate and hold and to act on His bigoted views. He is a charlatan and has an obviously corrupt soul. He is a BIG Loser, trust me He nearly ruined Indiana, not that it would take much anyway…..
SFMike
The tiny shriveled Christian mind ossified by a lifetime of religious propaganda cannot understand the concept of marriage as a contract between two living humans and not a three way between two humans and an imaginary person that doesn’t exist. It’s sad really but in the end is most dangerous and has to be fought by all good people that want a civil society based on individual freedom and not religious group think.
Rugby8
He doesn’t agree with the concept. That’s his right.
He did NOT say I couldn’t marry my husband.
msfrost
Well said!
TomG
Sorry Pence, but I for one don’t believe you. You are too right wing to accept anyone as being gay etc.
dwick
especially himself
bachy
The confusion comes down to the number of people who insist that the US is a “Christian” country. What they don’t understand is that one of the basic principles of the US is “freedom of religion.” While it is a complicated and occasionally problematic precept, “freedom of religion” means that any religious belief, as long as it doesn’t step on the rights of others, may be practiced here. American citizens have rights regardless of their religion (or lack of religion), and it is illegal for any person to impose their religious beliefs on others.
Jaquelope
Yet they do so, or at least try, almost constantly.
msfrost
The US Constitution, was inspired by the Articles of Confederation, of the Iroquois Nations, Am of Iroquois Ancestry! ( Hodensauee”
Terrycloth
He said I would say I love you I saw the clip then he rambles on with political double speak. Meaning a bunch of great sounding words in a sentence that basically say nothing..it shoukd of been I love you but….he’s for conversion therapy that gays can be changed..Mike will never be supportive of lgbtq+ people even if a family member came out
WillParkinson
Traditional marriage? One man, dozens of women? One woman is worth how many goats?
Creamsicle
Reminds me of the old Betty Bowers video on “traditional marriage.”
radiooutmike
Right wing Christians conflate same-sex marriage with religious liberty because they don’t want churches to be forced to marry same-sex couples.
The problem is, no one is asking for laws to make churches do that. The more progressive faithful may want their churches to do it, but that’s up to the specific church administration.
It’s also pretty insidious in regards to civil marriages. It’s why churches will accept marriages by JoPs or ship’s captains, but only heterosexual ones. And whatever church will bless that as to make a “holy” marriage.
Brian
“Traditional” marriage in the US allows for the “common law” tradition. Common law goes way, way back to pre-colonial times in England in which a couple was allowed to cohabitate for a few years and then walk into a local clerk’s office and say, “We’re already married,” and that was that. No priest. No church. No prayer book. No religion at all. That’s been the rule in America since before America was America.
This Christian thing is an attempt to rewrite history. It’s not based in fact. As with so many issues, when it comes to marriage, Christians are liars.
mikeTigg
Really??? You lie like a rug Mr Pence and will do and say anything to salvage your political career.
missvamp
it’s way too late to try to fix your image. this act falls far too short. you’ll never get the nom in 2024 & even if you do, we will never forget you were complicit. f off with your lies.
Polaro
He wasn’t speaking to us…he was speaking to the straight people in the middle.
BGreen1963
No, he was speaking to the Extremist Straight White People. They are in his mind “the great silent majority”. I guess they are silent because they are fearful and frightened, just like him. And white because his god prefers white people as people of color are tainted by his son the Devil. Who was banished for not obeying his father and thinking he might be allowed to have any valid thoughts. Which is so odd, because Jesus was a rebel as well, until his father said “NO”. And he gave up his freedoms for his father. It’s why they don’t believe in science or sanity or freedom. I’d love him to answer whether it’s right to stone someone to death for eating shellfish or wearing mixed fabrics? And why he thinks its okay to treat people who are not white, male, heterosexuals differently. Mike Pence was going to lose his job as Governor in Indiana because he was to much of an Extremist to Indiana. Indiana which birthed the KKK. Which has birthed more serial killers per capita than any other state or territory or Country. Never believe Pence has love for anyone unless they follow the word of Mike Pence. He is a stupid, narrow minded, inbred piece of offal. He has even less charisma than most of Indiana. I’ve spoken truth to power on the steps of the Indiana Capitol building while he snuck out the back way. He is a coward and pure evil, just like his orange peep of a rescuer from Mass-of-Lardo, Florida.
Kangol2
Great points, BGreen1963. A few additional ones: the KKK was actually born in Pulaski, Tennessee, after the US Civil War. It and its subsequent incarnations have always been linked to racist terrorism. Indiana was a major center for KKK activity in the North/Midwest. The other thing I hope everyone always recalls is that Jesus was Middle Eastern, from what is now Israel. His ancestors included the ancient Hebrews, Canaanites and Moabites. He was not under any circumstances a White European, no matter how many times we have been brainwashed to believe Him so.
Polaro
BG, if he were speaking to the crazy right he would not have said what he said. He’s positioning himself to the center right on this topic. Its his political strategy. The crazy right belong to the Trumpers. He’s building an alternative position. He’s not our friend, but it is what it is.
mateo
Same ole, same ole: “Love the ‘sinner’, hate the ‘sin’ “. The very fact that they think of us as “sinners” is disgusting enough. Their hypocracy is obvious to everyone—except to they themselves.
Mike Hunt
My gaydar activates whenever I see old closet queens like him, Graham, et al, screeching about this that and the other.
*sigh …*
xanadude
I wonder what he has to say about the current push to get rid of the marriage age restriction? Basically letting true predators marry children.
Jaquelope
Because of the backlash on that issue, they’ve been forced to amend that law so that wouldn’t be allowed.
Mr. Stadnick
Isn’t being a liar against his “christian” beliefs? Because he is either lying in that speech or has lied in the past. He was trumps VP nothing he says can be taken as a fact. He is dirty now and forever!
BGreen1963
He’s not afraid of God punishing him, because he knows whatever hellish turd he prays to, isn’t a God or even real. He knows it deep down and it’s why he is weak and fearful, even of transgendered children. I truly was stunned when he stood up to Trump. He probably realized that eventually Trumps crimes would be punished and he’d look like a hero, if only in a little way, for a short time. Because then he wouldn’t be the total waste of DNA his parents knew he is. No one loves Pence. Not even the woman he screws and calls his mommy. Not his kids. No one. He is a waste of DNA and clearly missing some key chromosomes.
Major
When answering the student’s question, he should have put a period after “I love you.” and left it at that. However, he had to add that “but….” and that pretty much negated what he said.
If they are so much against “gay marriage” then they shouldn’t marry someone of the same sex. How hard is that to understand for them?
Had the Supreme Court not stepped in on the subject of marriage equality, my husband and I still wouldn’t be married here in Texas.
GayEGO
My husband and I got married in Massachusetts in 2004. I realize back then, people were learning that it was a civil marriage as I did. Religious liberty only gives the religious to practice the doctrines within their religion and cannot force them on Americans outside their religion. We had a great 57 years before my husband passed away in 2019. In America, one must get a civil marriage license, not a religious one.
PubicHairus
I’m sorry for your loss. A life of 57 years together is incredible, and glad you could spend some of that time legally married, particularly towards the end of life when those legalities are essential.
GrizzleyMichael
The thought of him breeding
Seth
There is no hate as caustic as a christianist’s “love.”
Jaquelope
That’s because he, and those like him are not true Christians, as they do not follow the precepts set up by the One they claim to worship and adore.
SDR94103
he’s a stinking fraud.
Jim
He’s be ecstatic since they could go out cruising together.
[email protected]
His main point was that we need to respect the fact that people can disagree without having to hate each other. Just because you disagree with someone’s religious position doesn’t mean that they aren’t entitled to their opinion. Like he said, we live in a pluralistic society and he accepts that society may not always agree with his position. I am all in favor of gay marriage but I also respect a bake shop owner’s position of not wanting to baking a cake for a gay wedding The same Supreme Court that allowed gay marriage didn’t force the cake maker to bake a cake for a gay wedding. Religious rights also expounded our Constitution whether you agree with it or not.
Doug
This is pretty much what I heard in his comment too, which shows some (but not a lot of) improvement. He still doesn’t recognize trans people, and probably never will.
rand503
SSM doesn’t affect most anyone. The only people it actually affects are companies or businesses that employ a gay person who is married to another gay, and they have to pay benefits to the legally wedded spouse, or government employees who have to dole out benefits to spouses. That’s it. And the number of businesses or employees who are upset about this is even smaller.
But that is what Pence is referring to — the small number of people who, as part of their job, must provide benefits to legally wedded spouses, and they want to be able to refuse, or at least not participate. It doesn’t actually infringe on their religion, as they are free to practice, but they want to impose their beliefs on others.
Then there is Justice Alito. He said in a speech to the Federalist Society that SSM infringes on religious people (i.e, Christians) because Christians are being mocked, laughed at, derided and generally made fun of.
Of course, any first year law student would see that SSM has nothing to do with how people treat Christians. But he is hell bent on reversing SSM on those grounds nonetheless.
johncp56
He is just gearing up for election, piggie was part of a religious group believing in conversion therapy, once a scummy sticky creep, always a creep
Polaro
I will say I was surprised at his acceptance of LGBT people. His stance on marriage is retrograde still, but I did not expect that to change. Would have been nicer if he had admitted that his religious view of marriage is not the same as the legal acceptance of all marriages. While I would never vote for him, I was far less offended by his statements than I feared I would be.
P.S. not accepting Lia Thomas’ win does not make him anti-trans. You may not like it, but it is not an unreasonable position. It’s a sticky issue.
Den
M-T-F trans participation in women’s athletics is a very sticky issue and even the trans community is not united.on it. A trans woman I know who was a strong skater before her transition, and remains exceptionally strong from years of training feels it needs to be decided on an individual basis. She has declined to participate in competition, choosing instead to judge, coach, and provide logistical support at events. Her position is not popular, and would add difficulty to decisions as well as relying on personal integrity. But it makes a lot of sense.
Wheelerman
Pence is a turd. Always was; always will be. As a professed Christian; I’m surprised he didn’t go up in flames saying some of this. His screeching about “religious freedom” is old and tiresome. Well over half of Americans support marriage Equality. So go fcuk yourself, Mike.
Rocinante
I’ve always been confused by the religious argument that being gay is a choice and that gives the right to treat us as second class citizens. I know they don’t care about science or anything that proves it’s not but the part that is confusing is they don’t see how that argument puts religion square in the crosshairs. Religion is 100% a choice. No one is born any religion; early in your life it’s picked for you by your heritage; later in life you continue to choose to follow that religion or maybe another or non at all.
In general I don’t se how followers of a religion to the detriment of others have the mental capacity to continue breathing. Religion should be renamed Hypocrisies. “ Which Hypocrisy do you follow.” “ Well I want to be as hypocritical as is possible so I am a snake handling Evangelical; we are the most pious hypocrites. No other can be as hypocritical as us and god loves for that.”
EZinHTown
“I would say I love you…” but I don’t believe that you should be able to marry the man you love. Give me a break!
gregg2010
Ah yes, the compassionate Christian. Yet he would have no problem passing legislation to limit the rights of gays. He’ll run for President since he won’t be on the Trump ticket again. What’s particularly scary is that unlike Trump, Pense is smart.
Joshooeerr
He’s repeatedly endorsed conversion therapy and spent his entire political career voting against LGBT rights. But he’s too chicken-sh*t to own those views in a public forum. It tells you everything you need to know about his (lack of) integrity.
Terrycloth
When he says I’d say I love you…but .the but means forget everything else I just said.lke other straights who hate gays .most never probably knew their ,dentist…doctor might be gay, their trainer, hairdresser, salesperson ,bank teller, bartender ..we are everywhere just because we don’t hang on to our esses’s have limp wrist clutch our chest and sing showtunes
lambchopp59
Beyond “look him in the eye and say I blubb you”, he danced around the central issue of the question with the same tone as “I’m not racist but”… anyone else note the “but” later on in that string of nervously stated rhetoric? Don’t confuse softpeddling that answer with any sort of live and let live:
He would still legislate against his son’s rights. I’d also lay money on that he would not attend his son’s ceremony.
Fname Optional Lname
He needs to learn that just because he reads a book and believes in it that does not mean the rest of the country has to adhere to his fantasy. Freedom of religion also includes the freedom to not follow a religion. Believing that the entire country should adhere to his beliefs and that laws should be created around those beliefs shows how ignorant he truly is. If he had a child who came out as LGBTQ we all know that child would be in conversion therapy faster than Trump would be in a line for a Big Mac BOGO.
charlietex
I’m not going to repeat the comments about how obviously transparent this position by pence is. I wish there had been an opportunity to actually challenge him on those positions, but whatever.
What I’d like to say is that when I was a student there was a Gloryhole in Old Cabell Hall. I wonder if it’s still there and if Pence’s Spidey sense was tingling?