Mike Pence, Vice President, homophobia, homophobic, Indiana

Current Vice President and noted homophobe Mike Pence delivered a speech November 12, praising new restrictions from the Trump Administration that will allow taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to deny same-sex couples the right to adopt.

“I couldn’t be more proud that, at President Trump’s direction, and with the strong support of leaders across foster care, adoption, and our faith communities, we’ve taken decisive action,” Pence said in his speech. “We’ve reversed the rule implemented in the closing days of the last administration that jeopardized the ability of faith-based providers to serve those in need by penalizing them for their deeply held religious beliefs. We will stand for the freedom of religion and we will stand with faith-based organizations to support adoption.”

Related: Mike Pence to headline anti-gay group gala at Trump Hotel

Pence refers to an Obama-era policy which prohibited agencies receiving federal funds from discriminating based on gender identity or sexual orientation. The new Trump policy also has ramifications far outside adoption. Agencies that provide healthcare services, homeless shelters and even drug recovery programs will have a right to turn away people seeking help and treatment simply for being queer.

“Trump and Pence relentlessly marginalize LGBTQ people and attempt to erase our existence,” HRC President Alphonso David seethed in a statement. “Their disturbing worldview extends into the adoption and foster care systems, where they support giving federally-funded foster and adoption agencies a license to discriminate against LGBTQ children and prospective parents, religious minorities and other vulnerable groups. LGBTQ youth are tragically over-represented in foster care, and this White House continues to exacerbate the marginalization, harassment and discrimination that LGBTQ youth in foster care and families face.”

The Trump Administration is widely regarded as the most ardently anti-LGBTQ administration in history, having implemented discriminatory policies like the one mentioned here, cut funding to HIV/AIDS research and attempted to ban transgender Americans from serving in the armed forces.

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