Mike Pence Deflects Criticism Of His LGBTQ Intolerance, Citing First Amendment

Vice President Mike Pence is hitting back at criticism from 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg , who questioned how Pences religious beliefs conform to his anti-LGBTQ views.

Buttigieg, the South Bend, Indiana, mayor who is openly gay and Episcopalian, said at the annual LGBTQ Victory Fund brunch on April 7 that the Mike Pences of the world, should realize that if youve got a problem with who I am, your problem is not with me. Your quarrel, Sir, is with my creator.

Pence, a former Indiana governor who has worked with Buttigieg, seemed stung by the criticism in an interview with CNN s Dana Bash that aired Friday. He said he considered [Buttigieg] a friend, and he knows I dont have a problem with him.

I dont believe in discrimination against anybody, asserted Pence, a socially conservative Christian whose policies in Indiana were criticized as harmful to the LGBTQ community. I treat everybody the way that I want to be treated. The truth of the matter is all that of us have our own religious convictions. Pete has his convictions, I have mine.

In an exclusive interview, Vice President Pence tells @DanaBashCNN that South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg's \"quarrel is with the First Amendment. All of us in this country have the right to our religious beliefs. I'm a Bible-believing Christian.\" https://t.co/CS0P2fwbcb pic.twitter.com/iqKSIo0SO1

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I'm a Bible-believing Christian.\" https://t.co/CS0P2fwbcb pic.twitter.com/iqKSIo0SO1 New Day (@NewDay) April 12, 2019\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":540,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D39CGMCWkAAxXkd.jpg","thumbnail_width":960,"title":"New Day on 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In an exclusive interview, Vice President Pence tells @DanaBashCNN that South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg's "quarrel is with the First Amendment. All of us in this country have the right to our religious beliefs. I'm a Bible-believing Christian." https://t.co/CS0P2fwbcb pic.twitter.com/iqKSIo0SO1
New Day (@NewDay) April 12, 2019

Pences record of LGBTQ intolerance includes arguing that same-sex marriage was a sign of societal collapse, opposing an anti-workplace discrimination law and supporting the now-repealed Dont Ask, Dont Tell military policy preventing soldiers from openly identifying as gay.

Still, the vice president contended that Buttigiegs issue was related to freedom of religion rather than acceptance.

I think Petes quarrel is with the First Amendment, he said. All of us in this country have the right to our religious beliefs. Im a Bible-believing Christian.

The remarks add to a feud between the two Hoosiers that has been building throughout the week.

In a Wednesday interview with CNBC , Pence chided Buttigieg for his criticism, saying he knows better and suggesting that his speech was motivated by Democrats competition with one another for how much more liberal they are.

In a pre-taped appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show airing Friday, Buttigieg fired back at Pence, saying: Im not critical of his faith; Im critical of bad policies.