Buttigieg “saddened” by woman who wanted her vote back because he’s gay

Democratic Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg talked about how his sexuality may play with some voters in an interview with NBC’s Meet The Press yesterday.

Talking with Chuck Todd, Buttigieg addressed a video that went viral last week. It showed a woman in Iowa who had voted for Buttigieg asking if she could take her vote back after learning that he is married to a man.

Related: Iowa woman loses it after voting for Mayor Pete and then learning… he’s gay!?!?

Chuck said to Buttigieg, “There’s going to be voters like that … There’s some voter who walks into the booth and just doesn’t pull the lever simply because they have an issue with your private life. What do you say to those concerns?”

Buttigieg replied, “The first is what I have to say to that voter, which is I’m saddened that she sees things that way but I’m running to be her president too.

“No matter who she votes for as president, I’m going to get up in the morning and try to do a good job for her and for every American.

“Look, the reality is prejudice is still out there and you’ve got to deal with it. I would not have been able to get re-elected where I did in Mike Pence’s Indiana if people were not able to look past that.

“Every time somebody seeks to break a barrier, pundits try to make it about electability.”

Chuck interrupted at this point to ask, “Have you taken a moment to appreciate the history that you’ve made?”

“There’s not a lot of time for reflection in a campaign,” says Buttigieg. “There was a moment before we went out when [husband] Chasten pulled me in and reminded me what this means for some kid peeking around the closet door wondering if this country has a place for them.

“I didn’t set out to be the gay president, but certainly seeing what this means is really meaningful and really powerful.”

The conversation takes place around the 8.15 mark.

In the rest of the interview, Buttigieg talks about his political record and why he believes he’s the candidate to beat Donald Trump.

He also talked about a political campaign video released last week by Joe Biden, which contrasted Biden’s record in the White House as Vice President with Buttigieg’s record as mayor in South Bend.

The video savagely portrayed Buttigieg as inexperienced and questioned his standing in the eyes of African-American communities.

“The voters who know me best in the African-American community, those in South Bend community, those in South Bend are backing me,” claimed Buttigieg in response, saying that black unemployment and black poverty had been reduced in South Bend during his time as Mayor.

Related: Pete Buttigieg declares victory in Iowa… but the jury’s still out 

Buttigieg appears to have narrowly beaten Bernie in last week’s Iowa Caucus over by the slimmest of margins (26.2% to 26.1%), although at the time of writing, Sanders may be seeking a partial re-canvass of the results and no official result has been declared

Tomorrow, the Democratic frontrunners again go head-to-head in the New Hampshire Primary. Opinion polls currently have Sanders leading in New Hampshire (at 27%), followed by Buttigieg (19%), Amy Klobuchar (14%), Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden (both on 12%).

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Russian Police Raid ‘Pussy Riot’ Video Shoot for Violating Ban on Gay Propaganda: WATCH

Russian police raided a video shoot by the queer feminist punk group Pussy Riot on Sunday in St. Petersburg for “gay propaganda, extremism, and making an illegal video,” according to the group.

A spokesperson told Dazed: “We had a contract with the location and paid for everything. It did not matter, because the police’s task was to prevent a video shoot. Russian political police commanded to the studio where we were shooting, Lenfilm, to cut off electricity in the whole building. When we rented an electric generator, the police who surrounded the building did not let us bring the generator in – to be sure we couldn’t film. Later we were kicked out of the building – with no legal explanations. We lost $15k on video production.”

The video, which was partially shot, features 150 queer activists, and is set to the track “БЕСИТ / RAGE”, a song “dedicated to a pain that we – feminists and the queer people – feel being the enemies of the state.”

The band released a teaser for the video which included footage of the police raid.

The post Russian Police Raid ‘Pussy Riot’ Video Shoot for Violating Ban on Gay Propaganda: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Russian Police Raid ‘Pussy Riot’ Video Shoot for Violating Ban on Gay Propaganda: WATCH

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 10, 2020

HRC IS TRACKING MORE THAN 600 PIECES OF STATE LEGISLATION THAT COULD AFFECT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: While many of those determined to be anti-LGBTQ will be defeated, this number shows that our fight is far from over. These bills include thoses that attack the most vulnerable LGBTQ Americans, including transgender children. More from Kate Sosin (@shoeleatherkate) at NewNowNext.

HRC is tracking 600+ pieces of potentially anti-LGBTQ legislation around the country.

These bills include ones that attack the most vulnerable LGBTQ Americans, including transgender children.

While many will be defeated, our fight is far from over. t.co/WpTQRnwu4x

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 7, 2020

MONDAY MUST READ — WASHINGTON BLADE SHARES EMOTIONAL INTERVIEW WITH ASYLUM SEEKER IN ICE CUSTODY: Yariel Valdés González (@valdes_yariel), a contributor to the LGBTQ paper, was granted asylum by a U.S. judge — only to have the decision appealed by ICE. The Blade’s Michael Lavers (@mklavers81) visited González in custody, where they discussed his journey, singing Lady Gaga songs during their travels together and González’s hope “to begin a new life in the U.S. without fear of persecution.” Read this powerful piece in Washington Blade.

The @WashBlade‘s reporting on the plight #LGBTQ migrants and asylum seekers has continued since Yariel entered @ICEgov custody last March, but this coverage has obviously become personal. Here are my thoughts about it t.co/kN8XzMqCqL @valdes_yariel

— Michael K. Lavers (@mklavers81) February 4, 2020

PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION BLOCKING TRANS YOUTH FROM HEALTH CARE IS DANGEROUS AND CRUEL: Writes Columbia University Associate Professor Tey Meadow (@dr_tey). “[This movement] ignores the evolving consensus among physicians and psychologists that active facilitation of the gender identities of trans youths — acknowledgment, support, associated medical care — is the single biggest predictor of the physical, psychological and emotional well-being of these youths.” More from The Washington Post.

92ND ACADEMY AWARDS SPOTLIGHTED LGBTQ ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS: The 92nd Academy Awards saw an Oscars win by LGBTQ legend Elton John (@eltonofficial) and incredible performances by genre bending artist Janelle Monáe (@JanelleMonae) and performer and fashion icon Billy Porter (@theebillyporter). More from HRC and The Advocate.

• Next month, HRC will be honoring Monáe with the Equality Award at the 2020 Los Angeles Dinner. More info here and at The Root. 

“I’m so proud to stand here as a Black, queer artist telling stories. Happy #BlackHistoryMonth!”

We’re proud to call Janelle Monáe a member of the @HRC family and present her with HRC Equality Award next month. What an incredible performance! Congrats, @JanelleMonae! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/jybW0TKqqT

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 10, 2020

NEW HRC VIDEO — VIRGINIA STATE REP. JENNIFER BOYSKO ON WHAT THE VIRGINIA VALUES ACT MEANS TO HER:

“I’m doing this for my daughter.”

Thank you Rep. @JenniferBoysko for sharing why the Virginia Values Act matters to you.

Every child deserves to be protected from discrimination. pic.twitter.com/xzd0Wqlh9Z

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 7, 2020

MEET SETH OWEN, ONE OF HRC’S 2020 CLASS OF YOUTH AMBASSADORS: Owen knows what it means to turn struggle into activism. After leaving his unaccepting home, the efforts of his supportive teachers to raise money for him to attend Georgetown University went viral. He is the founder of a scholarship foundation to help students like him. More from The Hill’s Changing America.

CHARLESTON, S.C., POLICE DEPARTMENT BECOMES FIRST IN THE STATE TO LAUNCH SAFE PLACE PROGRAM FOR LGBTQ CITIZENS: The department noted the decision was made due to the rise in hate crimes and the deaths of four trans women of color in the state due to violence. Read their full statement here.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER & JOURNALIST ATTACKED IN GROZNY — CRIME APPEARS TO BE “ENDORSED” BY CHECHEN AUTHORITIES, “TOLERATED” BY THE KREMLIN: Marina Dubrovina and Elena Milashina have been involved in shedding light on the violence inflicted by the Chechen government on LGBTQ people. More from Human Rights Watch.

EIGHT MEN IN MAURITANIA SENTENCED TO PRISON ON SUSPICION OF BEING LGBTQ: They were arrested at a birthday party misreported to authorities as a same-sex wedding, according to Human Rights Watch.

ITV PRESENTER PHILLIP SCHOFIELD COMES OUT AS GAY: More from Manchester Evening News.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break! 

South Florida Sun-Sentinel speaks to Jeanette Jennings, mother of Jazz Jennings, about her efforts to stop anti-transgender bills in their home state

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

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