During a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire, former Vice President and current presidential hopeful, Mike Pence, was faced with an unexpected interruption.
Amidst his campaign speech, a heckler from the crowd of reporters boldly declared Pence as "gay."
Pence, in his address to the reporters, had been outlining the reasons behind his presidential run. "We're running because we simply believe, with all humility, that I'm the most qualified, most experienced, the most tested conservative seeking the nomination," Pence stated, his words punctuated by the sound of camera shutters.
However, his speech was interrupted by a reporter who provocatively asked, "Mike Pence, are you gonna tell them? Tell them." Pence chose to overlook the interruption, continuing with his campaign message. "We're gonna commit our campaign to the American people," he affirmed.
The heckler, undeterred, continued his line of questioning. "You promised today was our coming out day," he said, speaking over Pence. "Mike Pence you are gay," he declared.
Pence attempted to regain control of the situation, but the heckler persisted. "You're gay, here's the proof," he said. "Mike Pence, I'll admit your John Deere is bigger than mine."
A man in a suit, presumably a member of Pence's team, tried to intervene, saying, "I apologize for that, please go ahead."
Pence, undeterred, continued his speech. "We don't know what the future holds for our little family," he said, "but we know who holds the future. We entrust ourselves to the judgement of the people of the Granite State. We're going to trust ourselves to the judgement of the American people."
Pence is currently campaigning in New Hampshire, seeking the Republican party's nomination for the 2024 presidential race against Joe Biden or the Democratic candidate. Pence previously served as vice president under President Donald Trump, who is currently the leading contender for the Republican nomination.
Despite having made it to the debate stage for the Republican National Convention twice, Pence has struggled to break into double digits in polling. He has consistently criticized President Trump, who leads in both polls and party support, and has distanced himself from Trump's anti-war, bilateral approach to foreign policy.
Pence is a known supporter of American intervention in the Ukraine war and has previously expressed opposition to gay marriage in the United States. He has also stated that he would not meet with a woman alone, without others present.
In April 2022, when a student asked Pence how he would respond if one of his children were gay, Pence replied, "I'd look him in the eye and say I love you." He further added, "if we got to know each other, you'd know the Pences love everybody. We treat everybody the way we want to be treated. 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."
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