The White House Streamed A Homophobic Sermon At A Mike Pence Event Claiming Gay People Are Possessed By Demons
Mike Pence's questionable history with LGBTQ issues has been long and well-documented. Perhaps most shocking, however, is that he makes so little effort to correct his course.
Pence recently visited the Holy City Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee to speak. While he was there, the pastor gave an incredibly homophobic sermon, saying LGBTQ people were possessed by demons.
The pastor's speech, which was streamed on the White House's official website and YouTube account, featured Bishop Jerry Wayne Taylor describing Pence as "one of the most persecuted Christians in America."
In his speech, given mere moments after Pence spoke, said that gay people were possessed by the Devil.
"We have to encourage young men and women to get married. It's a demonic spirit that causes a woman to want to lie with another woman. It's a demonic spirit that causes a man to be attracted to another man."
Lmao this woman during Mike Pence’s speech right now about Dr. Martin Luther King https://t.co/nu2hwB7We0— Alex Peter (@Alex Peter) 1579459679
He also said:
"If a man gets attracted to me, he's gonna be in trouble. Don't put your hands on me! Amen. God didn't make us for that."
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK: White House streams Bishop's sermon -"We’ve got to expose what the devil is doing, y’all"… https://t.co/wLFM6zf03F— dvtv rich (@dvtv rich) 1579564196
The Bishop then made this joke to loud cheers:
"He made a man to be a man. If you want to know what God made you, when you go to the bathroom, just check your plumbing. What kind of plumbing are you using?"
Mike Pence is “honored” to officially represent President Trump at church service that Attacks Gays, Lesbians, Tran… https://t.co/1nt226Hr8V— Avid Atheist (@Avid Atheist) 1579570384
@Uncle_Jebus Scary to think a crazy loon like that is second in command!— Stephen Wilde. (@Stephen Wilde.) 1579588118
Adding inaccuracy to his homophobia, the pastor then falsely said homosexuality must be caused by the devil because animals don't exhibit homosexual behavior (many do).
"You never see two male animals coming together. Animals have not left the place that God called them to be in, they stay in that place. We've got to expose what the devil is doing, y'all."
People attack the @VP because he believes in torturing gay men to "cure" them, he says he is a Christian and suppor… https://t.co/PYtWHCnc4f— Ben Stands With Ukraine 🇦🇺❤️🇺🇦 (@Ben Stands With Ukraine 🇦🇺❤️🇺🇦) 1555297737
During his speech, Vice President Pence promised to "stand strong for the values that you hold dear."
Hey @vp, Take some time off from worshipping the DEVIL and actually read what Jesus said. He didn't say anything ab… https://t.co/ChG8GKjuAD— Spy Doggie 🇺🇦 (@Spy Doggie 🇺🇦) 1562993283
Overall, people were exhausted that one of our most powerful representatives in government continues to support anti-LGBTQ causes.
But goodness knows we won't have long to wait before Vice President Pence gives us another opportunity to be disgusted.
Gay Man Has Spent The Last Three Years Dressing As Mike Pence To Collect Donations For Progressive Organizations
Mike Pence isn't seen as an incredibly tolerant figure in the world of politics...unless you visit the version of him that often strolls through Times Square, collecting money for various charities like Planned Parenthood.
If you've encountered the Times Square Pence, you likely won't forget it.
Not only is he more open and loving than his White House counterpart, he also happens to wear short shorts.
This is Mike Hot-Pence.
Mike Hot-Pence, embodied by 51-year-old graphic designer Glen Pannell, burst into public view after being photographed and profiled by Howard Sherman in 2016.
Sherman is a blogger who takes photos of Times Square performers and shares their stories online.
Pannell spoke with Buzzfeed about how, following the 2016 election, he felt he needed to do something. That's when he decided to take advantage of something many friends had surely commented on: his resemblance to the new Vice President.
He commented:
"The depression kept feeding on itself so I finally decided I had to do something, and it had to be bold and immediate, something I could point to at the end of the day and say, 'Here's what I did to make change.'"
Hot-Pence has already collected tens of thousands of dollars for "Planned Parenthood, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Trevor Project."
Pannell's alter-ego is also active on Twitter, where you can follow the account @MikeHotPence for updates on how our spiritual VP is doing.
Pannell noted a spike in his popularity again in December 2019.
Pannell made it clear this activity was more than just a hobby.
"These are all groups and causes that suffered when Pence was in office, so I worry about them in the next few years under a Trump-Pence administration."
Since Pannell has a full time job, Hot-Pence can only be found during the weekends, and will hope to find an indoor place to operate as the weather gets colder in NYC.
Pannell is confident, however, that his silly work is making a real difference.
"People want to give and they want to talk. I'm 51. I never expect anything I do to go viral online. I do understand why people respond to it. It's funny, and it's hopeful, and people need that right now."
There's only one thing left to say: Mike Hot-Pence 2020.
Ellen Page Does Not Hold Back As She Rips Into Pence And LGBTQ Hate Crimes In Colbert Interview
Canadian actress Ellen Page stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday to talk about her new Netflix superhero show The Umbrella Academy.
But rather than going into details about her new show in which she portrays Vanya, a troubled violinist, the 31-year-old actress launched into an impassioned speech covering topics that included the harmful effects of climate change; the Trump administration enabling hate crimes; and Mike Pence's homophobia.
While admitting there has been some progress made for representation in Hollywood, she insisted, "we need to hurry it up."
She spoke on behalf of a fed up community in what turned out to be a raw and emotional interview. Page did not hold back, and Colbert allowing her to have the floor without interrupting her introspective pauses was especially poignant to witness.
"Sorry, I'm, like, really fired up tonight," Page said halfway during the interview.
Watch the YouTube clip below from her Thursday-night appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in which she called out our leaders.
Ellen Page Calls Out Hateful Leadershipwww.youtube.com
When Colbert asked the environmentally conscious actress to define her earlier mention of "environmental racism," she explained that climate change "disproportionately affects people of color.
"This is something that's happening, and it's happening to the most marginalized people, and we need to be talking about it. It's really serious."
She laid into the media that passively informed the public of Jussie Smollett's attack as a possible hate crime.
"The urgency is so severe, and yet we have a media that's barely talking about it. We have a media that's saying it's a debate whether or not what just happened to Jussie Smollett is a hate crime. It's absurd! This shit isn't a debate."
Smollett, the actor who stars in FOX's The Empire, wound up in a hospital after he was viciously attacked by two masked-men in downtown Chicago who shouted racial and homophobic slurs and tied a rope around his neck.
"It feels impossible not to feel this way right now with the President and the Vice President, Mike Pence, who wishes I couldn't be married," she said, referring to her wife Emma Portner, whom she married last January.
"Let's be clear. The Vice President of America wishes I didn't have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana. He believes in conversion therapy. He has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the governor of Indiana."
"This is what happens," Page said, connecting the dots to indicate an administration whose anti-LGBTQ policies include reversing the lifted ban of transgender people in the military and refusing to acknowledge Pride month.
"If you are in a position of power, and you hate people, and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering — what do you think is going to happen?"
"Kids are going to be abused, and they're going to kill themselves. People are going to be beaten on the street."
Ellen Page absolutely nails it. If you preach and advocate hate towards certain groups, what do think is going to h… https://t.co/FfjpxWjOt9— Robyn (@Robyn) 1549168563
Visibly frustrated and fighting back tears, Page tried her best to maintain composure while Colbert and his audience hung on her every word.
that night ellen page went on colbert, railed against the haters, took Pence to school, cried, got an A+ in activis… https://t.co/etpMSQjD2S— Kendra (@Kendra) 1549003042
@Alyssa_Milano @EllenPage Thank you Stephen Colbert for allowing her to speak and just be quiet with her during the pauses.— ketogirl 🥓 (@ketogirl 🥓) 1549091927
A thing I love so much about Colbert is how often he lets his female guests just occupy quiet. When Gaga talked a… https://t.co/IAoZwRRGEG— Julie S. Lalonde (@Julie S. Lalonde) 1549028302
Page concluded the interview with a very powerful statement.
"I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you could meet."
"I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to fucking stop."
Many Trump-supporting conservatives dismissed her speech on Twitter as just another Hollywood rant and said that Pence was entitled to his opinion.
Fortunately, humanity prevailed and people lauded the actress for her riveting interview.
@halifaxfilmgal When I watched this earlier today, I was not prepared for where it went. It’s easy to be cynical ab… https://t.co/1B0roZZtKw— Rick Conrad (@Rick Conrad) 1549065020
@UmbrellaAcad @EllenPage Ellen kicked ass on Colbert's show. Being honest like that is terrifying. Sometimes a… https://t.co/kFbnOKBeVo— Jennifer Morris (@Jennifer Morris) 1549124146
@EllenPage Thank you for your moving, heart-felt words on Colbert's Late Show. Bless you!— Gifted Dolt (@Gifted Dolt) 1549165014
Like the actress said, it's time to "f****** stop."