According to ABC, South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg was heckled by so-called protesters at a Texas event Friday night.
The protesters yelled, "Marriage is between a man and a woman," and, "Repent," according to CNN reporter DJ Judd, who was in the audience. Judd also filmed footage of a woman being ushered out of the venue for making anti-abortion comments.
The event was the Dallas County Johnson Jordan Dinner.
As the story notes:
The protesters' comments at Buttigieg's event echoed those of Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, an evangelist who was a spiritual adviser to a dozen presidents, both Republican and Democrat. Billy Graham died last year.
Franklin Graham tweeted on April 24, "Mayor Buttigieg says he’s a gay Christian. As a Christian, I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as a sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized. The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman – not two men, not two women."
Texan and fellow Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke responded on twitter: "Texans don’t stand for this kind of homophobia and hatred," O'Rourke wrote. "Mayor Pete, we are grateful you came to Texas and hope to see you and Chasten back again soon."
Personally, I disagree with calling these people (no doubt people that would describe themselves as good Christians) protesters. One protests policies or laws or public actions. This is, essentially, hate speech. Buttigieg is less than based upon an immutable trait. He is not free to love the person of his choice. They could be volunteering at a homeless shelter or working with the terminally ill. Instead, they make time on a Friday night to invalidate another human.
They are not protesting. Call it what it is — Hate Speech.
Neither Buttigieg or O’Rourke would be my preference for the Democratic nomination. However, setting aside policy, I am continuously impressed by the poise and grace of both candidates.
Having followed the decline of the GOP and its supporters for the past twenty-five years, I suspect things will get worse.