Here’s the story of a bullied Vice President who found his voice and stuck up for himself, putting a mean gay Olympic figure skater in his place. Not really.
But Vice President Mike Pence has released a response to gay figure skater Adam Rippon, who earlier this week criticized Pence’s anti-LGBTQ stance.
In February, the 28-year-old will be one of three male figure skaters off to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the Olympics.
Rippon was quick to explain why he wouldn’t meet Vice President Mike Pence under any circumstances.
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Related: Champion figure skater Adam Rippon has captured our attention
As Pink News reports, Pence will be leading the US delegation of the upcoming Winter Olympics.
“You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?” Rippon asked. “I’m not buying it.”
“I don’t think he has a real concept of reality.
To stand by some of the things that Donald Trump has said and for Mike Pence to say he’s a devout Christian man is completely contradictory.
If he’s okay with what’s being said about people and Americans and foreigners and about different countries that are being called ‘shitholes,’ I think he should really go to church.”
Well, now Mike Pence has clapped back at that response, sending off a retort via snippy spokesperson.
Pence’s press secretary Alyssa Farah had this to say:
“The vice president is proud to lead the U.S. delegation to the Olympics and support America’s incredible athletes.
“[Rippon]’s accusation is totally false and has no basis in fact. Despite these misinformed claims, the vice president will be enthusiastically supporting all the U.S. athletes competing next month in Pyeongchang.”
Nevertheless, Pence’s stance on the LGBTQ community is well-known. Allegedly, Trump himself smirkingly says Pence wants to hang all gay people. In the 1990s, he penned an article advising employers to never hire gay people. The list goes on and on, really.
(On a side note, let’s not forget the time Trump and Pence shared a highly awkward kiss in 2016. Myah.)
heath0043
Rippon’s is totally false? Maybe Pence’s press secretary is totally false and has no basis in fact. Pence has said and did everything Rippon said. But what can be expected to come from this White House.
leobaga
Just like Obama, Pence is pro gay now. People change. Stop the H8.
Greg
@legobaga. What do you mean, “Just like Obama”? He’s nothing like Obama. Pence is not “pro-gay” either. Don’t be a fool. A number of gay people thought that Trump was going to be a friend of the LGBT community and they voted for him.
leobaga
@Greg girl, Obama was against same sex marriage. Give it up .. gay rights are here to stay forever. Trump said it accurately, “it’s the law of the land.”
Juanjo
Leobaga – look troll boy, despite your rather pathetic attempt to drag Obama into this conversation, Pence has shown himself to repeatedly act contrary to the interests of gay men and women. This is not a debate over equality in marriage but rather it has to do with Pence’s hatred of gay people based upon religious bigotry and superstition. Pence has repeatedly argued that gay people should be fired from jobs, refuse housing, refused service in restaurants and other places of business and denied equal government services based solely on the fact they were gay. The fact he believes they should not be allowed to marry the people they love is just one small part of his overall religiously based bigotry.
My favorite Pence stupidity, even more than his no pizza for gay people stance, is his decision to defund Planned Parenthood and HIV services funding in Indiana when he was governor. By doing what he did he cut off services to thousands of people in Indiana who relied upon Planned Parenthood to provide std testing and treatment, pap smears and testing/treatment for HIV. This caused a spike in new infections and hit hard especially in the southern part of the state and among Caucasian, heterosexual, low-income people.
Obama may have at one point stated he believed personally that marriage should be only between men and women but he never actively worked to deny gay people other civil rights. He also evolved to the point where he realized his previous stance on marriage was not correct and embraced the idea of equal marriage rights for all. Pence has never evolved.
Navalator
The current American presidential and vice-presidential office holders are the most disgusting, crude, disgraceful and evil politicians in the history of the U.S. Republic. Congratulations are in order to the toothless, redneck, ignorant evangelicals who voted them into office. These two White House morons now exemplify the American mentality to the world. Soon the U.S. will be joining the league of shithole nations as principle contender for top dog. Say “good bye” to the American world influence and prestige.
leobaga
Pence has evolved because of Trump.
Trump = Love. #MAGA
mz.sam
@leobaga. Bye loser troll gurl!
jkb
Juanjo #respect
jjose712
leobaga First, Mike Pence was way further than being against gay marriage, he was (is) against gay rights in general. Second, Obama really proved that he changed supporting the new law.
Pence the only think that did till now is not being vocally agains gays (because he can afford it given the number of fires the president already made) but he didn’t show any kind of support.
What Rippon said is totally right, Pence like it or not
Brody
leobaga –
Obama in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011:
“I believe marriage is between one man and one woman.”
Liberal response:
“He’s such an amazing thinker!”
Trump in 2017:
“Gay marriage is here to stay.”
Liberal response:
“Homophobe!”
WillParkinson
Pence is pro-gay? Seriously? That’s what you’re going with? Please show me proof. If you can give it to me, I’ll even apologize to Pence for calling him a rabid homophobe.
Onecaddy13
You need to grow up just a little. You haven’t been gay long enough to worry about politics. What you need to do is stop trash talking and represent and bring it for the USA. If you don’t, they’ll be trash talking you. Make sure you do your research before you trash talk and accuse the VP. Anyone that talks trash about gays I just ignore. Being gay myself, Theres other ways of getting the message out. You shouldn’t worry about the VP, what you really need to worry about is the DPNK and a real. Lunatic just a few miles away.
geb1966
@leobaga please point out exactly when Pence said he was “pro-gay.” I’m sure a change like that would have made all the news outlets. if you can not provide definitive proof backing up your statement, go choke on a dick.
leobaga
Trump hates our number 1 enemy— Islam. Pence supports Trump. #MAGA
Juanjo
Our Dear Friends, the Borgy-Bro/Man/etc sock puppet and LoetrollBaga, have once again sailed forth upon the seas of logical fallacy. Creating strawmen of cherry-picked bits of BS. We distrust and dislike Trump/Pence, not for a gobbet of driven spurting forth from the Orange Howler Monkey, a demonstrated pathological liar but rather on his record. As for Pence, Trump himself has commented that Pence wants all gay people outlawed. Trump, however, is even worse. Trump does not give a damn about whether gay people marry each other, trans women and men used the bathroom of their choice, or who sells wedding cakes. But he knows his base does care deeply about these things, so he has given his authority to efforts to restrict the civil rights of gay people, including selecting federal judges and justices to remove all protections hard won by gay folks over the years.
happiness17
Pence is full of crap. He was one of the most homophobic governor’s in Indiana. With him in office that was one state in which the LGBT community
experienced a lot of prejudice. Pence claims he’s a church going man.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he has some very negative non Christian things in his closet. As bad as Trump is people need to keep in mind if he’s forced out of office Pence will be the president. He would be even worse on LGBT rights than Trump. It’s like who’s the worse of two evils? Trump or Pence?
Bruce Garner
Someone should remind Pence that as Vice President he represents ALL Americans regardless of his personal views. And if he cannot in good conscience do that, he should resign.
mujerado
Brody, Obama was against gay marriage until he wasn’t any more. If Trump and Pence ever actually do something for gay people they’ll be given credit. So far all they’ve ever done is talk. Their actions and the laws they support completely disprove any gay friendliness on their part. Prove otherwise, or shut up.
baal61
Big man. Flush.
joseph_buscarino
I dont find the comment snippy? more predictable than anything. If hes gonna be the homophobe everyone knows him to be, and Anti LGBT, then why not own it? instead deny and lie, which seems to be his MO
iron
his supporters will view him a bit sideways..big bucks got him there
Kieran
Sounds like a terrific opportunity for these athletes to meet Pence, identify themselves as gay and proud, and tell him why they think he’s wrong about gay conversion therapy and other issues. These are the situations that help people “evolve” on given issues.
Kangol
Not Pence. He’s a fanatic. He recently hosted a dinner for a rabidly anti-gay pastor who wants to install fundamentalist Christianity as the legal religion of the US. He’s not about to “evolve” anytime soon. He should be praying to Jesus Christ that the Russian investigation doesn’t land him in jail, though.
Xzamilloh
He’s had ample opportunities to “evolve”, but that’s the thing about adhering to your religion fundamentally… it’s static and doesn’t evolve. There’s one way things should be and that’s that.
Juanjo
He is not going to evolve. Pence is a member of the dominionist movement among the far right, low church, Protestants. This is a movement which believes that all secular law must be subservient to and interpreted in light of Biblical law and that they are the only ones to truly understand and interpret Biblical law correctly. They are the Taliban of the Christian religion. They wish to install their own view of Sharia Law in the United States.
dwes09
Exactly! Dominionists have managed to keep a very low profile in the US, but they are the greatest danger to democracy here. They believe that it is God’s will that only Christians be in political office, that “biblical law” supersede secular law and that our founders intended Christianity to be the official religion (they claim the first amendment only refers to freedom for the different Christian sects). The only wackier ones are the Christian Identity people who believe the US is the New Israel, only intended for Christians, that ancient Hebrews were lily white (and that the Jews are fake Hebrews), and that modern white Christians are what remains of those Hebrews. They tend to be armed, but they are few in number, many also national socialists or KKK members.
Brody
You’re giving liberals waaaay too much credit for being of sound mind, Kieran.
Ever seen one pass up an opportunity to be portrayed as a victim?
jd.cali
Pence is lame… almost as lame as posting this article with a shirtless gay Olympian. Almost… but not quite as lame.
Hey Queerty editors. That’s so lame to do! As if we wouldn’t know a gay guy unless he was shirtless. Ugh… go back to gay 101 class
Paco
It’s the same with gay movies. They have to be shirtless on the cover or no one will watch it I guess.
Bob Scardino
So let’s put Rippon in a suit and tie and have Pence shirtless.
happiness17
Brody-If you read the article you’d realize that liberals aren’t even mentioned in it. What the he*** does Obama have to do with
any of this. I don’t know what planet you’re on Obama hasn’t been the
president for over a year. This is about Pence and Trump. Not Obama
Regardless of what Obama may have said about gay marriage in the past if
it weren’t for him it wouldn’t be legal throughout the country. You need to
get over your obvious obsession with liberals.
leobaga
We respect your decision Adam. This right here is the beauty of a America. Sad to think you’d be imprisioned for publicly saying things like this in other countries. Best of luck to you. Bring home a medal and make us proud!
Juanjo
Piss off troll. You are just making a nonsensical statement here. You really support Pence and his efforts to screw over gay people.
leobaga
@GrandmaJuana , you need to change your meds.
Brody
juanjo –
If you ever wonder why we of common sense think of liberals as being angry, unhinged sociopaths, just take a gander at any of your comments (or any of the comments by like-minded liberals/sociopaths).
Greg
Pence looks totally gay to me.
rollerblademan
Pence IS gay!
Brody
Looks like someone’s got an unrequited crush on a certain VP.
Josh447
Pence obviously has not gotten the memo that there’s an internet in existence in the world today or Google for that matter. New York Times November 30th 2016:
Mike Pence and Conversion Therapy
A statement on an archived version of the website for Mr. Pence’s 2000 congressional campaign has been widely interpreted as signaling his support for conversion therapy. After listing his opposition to same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws that protect gay people, Mr. Pence’s website takes up the issue of the Ryan White Care Act, which provides federal funding for H.I.V./AIDS patients and was reauthorized by Congress that year:
Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior
Kangol
He’s a liar like his pathologically lying racist treasonous boss, Don the Con Man. They’re so stupid they seem not to grasp Google, let alone objective reality, exists.
leobaga
That statement was from 8 years ago. Lol. Pence has evolved because of President Trump.
Trump = Love. #MAGA
Josh447
Article here:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/us/politics/mike-pence-and-conversion-therapy-a-history.html?referer=android-app://com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
Josh447
Pence has shown no evolution of any of his psychotic education and resulting fears regarding the naturally occurring state of homosexuality in the human species.
bill195463
I think Pence doth protest too much.
And I’m gay, I was NOT stupid enough to vote for trump. Anyone with an ounce of sense would see the man is/was an idiot and would/is ruining this country.
leobaga
Trump is turning out to be a great president, ever.
Josh447
It’s greatest, not great. Grammar sonny. Why don’t you back up that statement their Bagan.
Brody
Josh447 –
It’s “there,” not “their.”
Grammar, sonny. (lol)
How unsurprising that, in your attempt to prove yourself the smartest lib in the room, you inevitably end up with your foot in your mouth.
WillParkinson
The sad thing here? LeoBaga probably believes the tripe he’s spewing.
Josh447
Brody,
Not a lib, just look at the facts.
Like my feet. Many say they taste great! Facts are facts.
Josh447
the greatest.
leobaga
Auto correct. Yes. The greatest. At least we agree on something.
Josh447
Pence hasn’t changed his stance one nit. If you think he has then by all means bring the goods. He is the most homophibic politician in the country. So much so while govenor of Indiana, he lost Indiana countless dollars due to corporations boycotting to move and do business there and huge losses in the travel industry due to Pence passing anti gay legislation. Indianans hate Mike Pence for raping their economy and reputation, they were ecstatic when he left office. Then Trump chose him to be VP. (knock knock you awake yet?)
Now, you said Trump was the greatest pres ever. Are you going to back that up or continue to slide step?
Josh447
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2016/01/31/indianas-religious-freedom-act-cost-indianapolis-60-million-in-lost-revenue/
Nahald
This skater shouldn’t feel so bad about Pence. Like most Christians Pence is one in name only, not practice.
Josh447
A true practicing Christian follows the Bible which says gays are to be “put to death” spoken by God of course, the serial murderer of all time. Seems they can’t murder gays now bc well, god is a total shame, so they will now go to jail. So they do it another way. Soul murder. God wins in “mysterious ways”. Pence is a full in Christian doing exactly what Christians do, soul murder. Or they hide under their beds for fear of speaking out against the serial killer Christian God Yaweh, the biggest hoax of all time. If Christians want to make a difference, they stand up for truth and address the basic issue, the Bible and its evil teachings. But lemmings have such minuscule power donchyaknow.
Josh447
That’s what Jesus did and look what happened to him. Major coup by making Jesus a blood soaked martyr.
chris33133
What I find so amazing about the world in which we live is that individuals, who before-now would not have noticed (or deigned to notice?), are responding to comments by people whose accomplishments are in fields way outside of their own. Why should any politician respond to political comments made by a world-class ice skater? That’s like a skater responding to comments made by a politician about their skating!
Brody
Regarding the “why” behind actors and athletes thinking their politics are meaningful to the masses, I believe it gives them a little bit of TV air time and makes them feel significant in ways other than simply showing off their meager abilities as entertainers.
That, and they’re all pretty freaking stupid.
Brody
When Trump actually does something homophobic, you be sure to let me know.
Until then, your delusion that you’re perpetual victims weakens your argument against him and dilutes any political power you might have once enjoyed, because intelligent people know how to separate facts from feelings.
Josh447
Easy peasy. He chose Pence (scroll up if you don’t know what that means) as VP. He has planted the most anti gay cabinet and judicial possible. He also just wiped the entire staff that supports aids research. And much more.
Your turn.
Brody
Thanks, Josh.
Here ya go:
“Despite White House assurances that President Trump will keep in place Obama’s order against anti-LGBT workplace discrimination and that he ‘continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights,’ advocacy leaders insist those words aren’t good enough and still anticipate executive action that would harm LGBT people.”
– Washington Blade, acknowledging that liberals are incurable fear-mongers regarding Trump’s policies, despite all facts to the contrary.
Also, it seems to me that we’ve been insisting for 3 decades that AIDS is absolutely NOT a gay disease, so I must presume his position on it is moot as far as gay issues are concerned.
Josh447
I’ve really adjusts thought Trump was not homophobic. I still think he is in a wheel that he can so so control. That doesn’t change my mind however, on his tactics at being a president. He’s a shit stirrer w bad manners. And a child that has repeatedly had to have judges stop his movements. But hey, it’s all controlled by viscous ETs who suck or is souls dry anyway so we can’t blame humans.
Josh447
Once again: I really never thought Trump was homophobic, or Christian for that matter. It’s a reality TV show to him that you win at all costs, lying is a major tool to win.
GayEGO
I doubt that Trump is anymore than a women’s P***y grabber and could care less about LGBTQs as long as he is winning and making money!
Josh447
Gayego….. Nailed it.
Josh447
Hey Brody,
Trump discriminates against gays and pregnant women via religious discrimination. There’s your answer to your stance that Trump doesn’t discriminate against gays. He does. No victim. Just facts.
Your ball.
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/01/trump-administration-announces-new-civil-rights-division-allow-lgbt-discrimination/?utm_source=queerty&utm_medium=directlink&utm_campaign=directlink&utm_content=Trump+administration+announces+new+‘civil+rights’+division+to+allow+LGBT+discrimination
Josh447
Your ball, if you can handle it.
jcoberkrom
I’ve seen Mike Pence often and heard him a few times on tv. He does not seem to be a man comfortable with himself. Sad.
JaredNorthcutt30
Look at those nipples.
JaredNorthcutt30
Hey Queerty, when are you going to put Tammy Ducksworth with her tatas out? It’s 2018 for Oprahsakes.
Geeker
Mike Pence always has the same pinched expression on his face, like it’s taking everything he has to not let any of the gay escape.
GayEGO
Why do we have such liars in the White House? Because the presidunce at the top is a liar. Mike Pence and Alyssa Farah are both liars, Mike Pence signed an anti-LGBTQ discrimination bill as governor of Indiana. Of course he caved in and removed the discrimination phrases when he found out there would be lawsuits and business boycotts, causing Indiana taxpayers a big loss of money. Alyssa is just lying to keep her job!
Josh447
We call it lies then extremists call us victims. Kind of like when Christians get called on their evil ways then get a push back and they call themselves the persecuted. Seems conservatives can’t take any responsibility for their bad actions at all, ever. Just blows their egos to smithereens. They are psycho. Poor babies. No wonder they align with baby Trump so perfectly. Even the extremists are getting a clue on this one. About effing time the clueless emerged with at minimum a tiny shed of common sense.
Josh447
Conservative values = fxxxck everything up, take blame for nothing.
Brody
For someone who claims he’s not a liberal, you certainly walk and quack like a liberal.
Josh447
I’m neither. But I do watch drama. And when a conservative is hit in the face with the truth by a “liberal” I see conservatives deflect and disappear. One is very responsible, the other lies cheats and sticks their grasses in the sand. That’s not conservative or liberal, that’s plain honest and dishonest.
Like you. Are you disappearing from my comment and article to you about Trump discriminating against gays and pregnant women? You did say to let you know when he discriminates against xyz’s. Scroll up 8ish comments on case you missed it.
The other “conservative” in the room has disappeared when asked to prove the president is the greatest president “ever”. Do you plan to follow his lead?
Brody
What, your article from LGBTQOMGLOLZZZZZZ Nation?
Nope, didn’t read it. Didn’t have to.
You who are so disgruntled at the election results are hardly a good source of “facts.”
Might as well get your “news” from MSNBC or CNN.
Josh447
Here’s the same subject matter from another news source. There are several more if you google it. Now the big question is: as a self ascribed “conservative” are you going to admit Trump discriminates against gays or not? Religious texts say gays should be “put to death”. This is what he is backing.
Traditionally, this is where “conservatives” fumble tuck tail and run without comment, looking quite foolish for walking out on a debate. Typically paranoid and at a loss for rational thought. Are you one of those lovely types?
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-announce-conscience-religious-freedom-division-hhs/story?id=52434480
girldownunder
Pence = another closet-case.
Every, f*cking time.
Josh447
Adam Rippon…. You’re a magnificent skater. The beauty of your amazing style brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for being you.
Rex Huskey
Pence is gay for pay.
HMFan
God, there is simply NOT enough bleach in the world to sterilize my eyes from seeing Trump’s air kiss on Pence.
DCguy
Wow, Mo Bro really brought out a long list of his various screenames all to defend a bigoted VP.
Fact, Pence was more than willing to trash the entire economy of Indiana just so he could attacked lgbts.
And notice how the spokesperson doesn’t specifically point out WHAT the skater said that was wrong? Because anything Pence tried to say would be an easily provable lie.
linniejr
DCguy, I wholeheartedly agree with you. I also agree with some of the other posts, condemning some of what was said by leobaga. I hope this person understands that Pence like his boss, D. Trump has nothing for us. His anti gay record is longer than I-95. What I would say to leobaga as opposed to trashing this person; Thank you. Why would I say that? Because this person saying what they did, made me think and realize that we in the gay community still have work to do, so that people like this, cannot get a strong foothold and become the voice of the land. I would go on further to say, that leobaga’s comments hopefully will cause us to go out and register to vote.
linniejr
If VP Pence was true to who he is, why didn’t he personally respond to the skater instead of getting his spokesperson to reply.
Josh447
Brody – I proved that Trump discriminates against gays, a thing you did not believe and said “let me know when that happens”.
“Traditionally, this is where “conservatives” fumble tuck tail and run without comment, looking quite foolish for walking out on a debate. Typically paranoid and at a loss for rational thought. Are you one of those lovely types?”
And there ya go not even a response.
I had so hoped for better from you than the atypical silent inner meltdown in the face of reality.
wld8hrt
Did anyone read that leobaga comment, “Pence evolved because of trump”? I can’t stop laughing. That’s like saying my dog learned how to speak English because my cat farted.
miguel
blah blah blah I wanna see Pence and Rippon in a locked room together, and watch the fireworks! Rippon getting heated about something, and Pence looking at him with that”aww shucks Mayberry” look. The tension between them getting palpable, till all of a sudden, when they think nobody’s looking, they dive into a deep deep tongue kiss like rabits in heat! and Pence ends the heated exchange whispering, in a desperate turned-on tone, “Please don’t tell my wife!”