{"id":53270,"date":"2017-05-21T14:00:27","date_gmt":"2017-05-21T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/glaad-video-over-50-notre-dame-graduates-walk-out-during-vice-president-pences-commencement-address-to-protest-pences-anti-lgbtq-history\/"},"modified":"2017-05-21T14:00:27","modified_gmt":"2017-05-21T18:00:27","slug":"glaad-video-over-50-notre-dame-graduates-walk-out-during-vice-president-pences-commencement-address-to-protest-pences-anti-lgbtq-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/glaad-video-over-50-notre-dame-graduates-walk-out-during-vice-president-pences-commencement-address-to-protest-pences-anti-lgbtq-history\/","title":{"rendered":"GLAAD Video: Over 50 Notre Dame Graduates walk out during Vice President Pence’s commencement address to protest Pence’s anti-LGBTQ history"},"content":{"rendered":"

GLAAD Video: Over 50 Notre Dame Graduates walk out during Vice President Pence’s commencement address to protest Pence’s anti-LGBTQ history<\/b><\/p>\n

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GLAAD Applauds Student-Led Protest and Tweets Pence\u2019s Worst Anti-LGBTQ Quotes and Actions<\/em><\/p>\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> \u2013 Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD \u2013 the world\u2019s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, released the following statement after more than 50 graduates of Notre Dame University in Indiana participated in a walkout protest during Vice President and former Indiana Governor Mike Pence\u2019s commencement address today. The students cited his history of anti-LGBTQ actions including passage of Indiana\u2019s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in 2015, which legalized discrimination against LGBTQ people and families.<\/p>\n

Video of the Notre Dame students turning their backs and leaving their graduation during Pence\u2019s commencement address is<\/a> available here<\/a>. Following the walkout, students tweeted photos of themselves in graduation caps and gowns outside of Notre Dame stadium using #walkoutND. GLAAD began tweeting a series of his previous anti-LGBTQ statements and actions paired with the photos: twitter.com\/glaad\/status\/866296393077534721<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cGraduates around the country deserve commencement speakers who inspire them to propel our diverse country forward, and these Notre Dame students bravely told the world that Vice President Pence\u2019s anti-LGBTQ actions fly in the face of unity and inspiration,\u201d said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD<\/strong>. \u201cThese Notre Dame graduates should be applauded for demonstrating true leadership and standing up for freedom and acceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pence has a history of speaking out against LGBTQ people and passing discriminatory laws including Indiana\u2019s RFRA in 2015, which allowed legal discrimination of LGBTQ people and families. Pence amended the law after it was met with outcry from sports leagues, local press, business leaders, and countless other fair-minded notables across the state and the country.<\/p>\n

BACKGROUND INFORMATION \u2013 Mike Pence\u2019s Long Anti-LGBTQ Activist Record <\/strong><\/p>\n

2000<\/strong><\/a>: During his congressional campaign, Mike Pence said, \u201cCongress should oppose any effort to put gay<\/a> and lesbian<\/a> relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n

2000<\/strong><\/a>: Pence also supported the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act\u00a0only if\u00a0federal dollars were excluded from organizations who \u201ccelebrate\u201d and \u201cencourage\u201d behavior that facilitates spreading of the HIV virus. Further, Pence supported this reauthorization\u00a0only if\u00a0\u201cthose institutions provided assistance to those looking to change their sexual behavior,\u201d which many interpreted as an endorsement for so-called ex-gay<\/a> conversion therapy, a practice debunked by the nation\u2019s leading mental and mental health authorities including the American Psychiatric Association.<\/p>\n

2004<\/strong><\/a>: Mike Pence co-sponsored a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would define marriage as solely between one man<\/a> and one woman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2007<\/strong><\/a>: Pence voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect gay<\/a>, lesbian<\/a> and bisexual<\/a> Americans from being legally fired from a job for their sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

2010<\/strong><\/a>: Mike Pence voted against the \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d repeal which allowed LGBTQ Americans to openly serve their country in military service.<\/p>\n

2012<\/strong><\/a>: Pence refused to say on the record if he supported a same-sex<\/a> couple<\/a> raising a child together.<\/p>\n

2014<\/strong><\/a>: Gov. Pence supported HJR-3, a bill to add an amendment banning same-sex<\/a> marriage to Indiana\u2019s Constitution.<\/p>\n

2015<\/strong><\/a>: Governor Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in a closed-door ceremony surrounded by special interest lobbyists.<\/p>\n

2015<\/strong><\/a>: Governor Pence said on ABC\u2019s \u201cThis Week\u201d that it was \u201cabsolutely not\u201d a mistake to sign RFRA, despite Indiana having to face a $250 million economic panic.<\/p>\n

2015<\/strong><\/a>: Even after his approval rating plummets from RFRA, Mike Pence on July 22 told the media he is \u201cstudying\u201d the issue of LGBTQ rights and whether or not he\u2019d support protections for the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n

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May 21, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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