Pete Buttigieg responds to anti-gay rant by county official who called him a ‘queer running for president’
Democratic Presidential candidate, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg could be the first openly gay US president. (Scott Eisen/Getty)
Pete Buttigieg has reponded to a Tennessee county official who said it was “about as ugly as you can get” that there was a “queer running for president”.
Commissioner for Sevier County, Warren Hurst, made the comments at a county commission meeting on October 21 and added that he thought there were better candidates in the local jail than those running for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Hurst also said: “I’m not prejudice [sic], but by golly, the white male in this country has very few rights and they’re getting took more every day.
“Your kids and your grandkids are gonna pay for what we’ve let happen.”
According to USA Today, Boston TV station WHDH asked Buttigieg what he thought of Hurst’s comments, as the gay presidential hopeful passed through New Hampshire on his campaign trail.
Buttigieg responded to the comments, saying: “Well, he was right about one thing. He’s right that there is a gay man running for president.
“He doesn’t seem to be right about much else.”
He added that he had encountered similar discrimination while campaigning, but added: “It doesn’t speak for most people. And I think the most important thing is to approach with compassion.”
When county commissioner Hurst originially made the comments, one person in the audience walked out but none of the other commissioners spoke out against him.
Later, assistant to the Sevier County Mayor, Perrin Anderson, responded to Hurst’s comments and said: “The statements made by commissioner Hurst at the Sevier County Commission meeting of October 21, 2019, do not reflect the opinion or position of Sevier County administration.
“Sevier County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or status in any other group protected by law.”
In a statement to WVLT News, Hurst said that he had African-American friends but he stands by his comments.
