Anti-gay protestors really need some new material: The Sodom and Gomorrah story is not only old hat, it’s not even really about homosexuality at all. But for protestors of South Bend, Indiana mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who presumably couldn’t think of actual rebuttals to his speeches, that’s what they chose to work with.
Another protester interrupting @PeteButtigieg with chants of “remember Sodom and Gomorrah” pic.twitter.com/l0FvgYBFWQ
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) April 17, 2019
One of the men who shouted about the biblical cities destroyed by God’s wrath for their sinful ways was Randall Terry, a Christian activist who founded the anti-abortion rights group Operation Rescue. The organization says it split with him 18 years ago and now considers him too radical.
The crowd at the Des Moines rally drowned out Terry’s shouts by cheering Buttigieg’s name.
“The good news is, the condition of my soul is in the hands of God, but the Iowa caucuses are up to you,” an unshaken Buttigieg responded, pointing at the crowd.
When even Operation Rescue finds you too radical, you know you’ve gone off the deep end. But what Terry said has been echoed by plenty of other Christian Right activists who think an openly gay politician is, by definition, unworthy of elected office.
Buttigieg’s had no doubt heard those insults before and he handled them with dignity and class. That’s more than we can say about a certain president when he’s provoked on social media. It’s also the perfect way to response to faith-based bigotry. As Buttigieg said on CNN, you don’t always have to take the bait.
(Featured image via Shutterstock)
