Anti-gay protestors are setting their sights on Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg — but he's not taking the bait
With Pete Buttigieg rising in popularity in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, anti-gay protestors have been trolling the South Bend, Indiana mayor in Iowa this week. Hecklers shouted anti-gay remarks during a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday; and on Wednesday, right-wing Christian fundamentalist protestors in Marshalltown, Iowa staged a bizarre demonstration that depicted Buttigieg whipping Jesus as Satan cheered him on.
At the Des Moines event, an anti-gay fundamentalist shouted, “Remember Sodom and Gomorrah.” And Buttigieg, who is openly gay and a practicing Episcopalian, responded, “The good news is the condition of my soul is in the hands of God, but the Iowa caucuses are up to you.”
In response, Buttigieg quipped to a Des Moines crowd, "The good news is the condition of my soul is in the hands of… https://t.co/VowjPLYjSC— NBC Out (@NBC Out) 1555528014
In Marshalltown, three right-wing Christian fundamentalists staged an anti-Buttigieg demonstration: one depicted Jesus, one depicted Satan, and one depicted Buttigieg—and the fundamentalist dressed as Buttigieg pretended to whip Jesus, while the fundamentalist portraying Satan said, “Beat the savior, beat him. I hate this guy.”
Good morning from @PeteButtigieg's first event of the day in Marshalltown, IA. The anti-gay protester has returned… https://t.co/1p8Ppx4aCL— Marcus J. DiPaola (@Marcus J. DiPaola) 1555510115
When NBC News asked Buttigieg about the anti-gay protestors in Iowa, he responded, "well, the better we do, the more that's going to happen. So I take it to be a barometer of success..... When you're in politics, especially at this level, you're going to see the good, the bad, the ugly and the peculiar."
The anti-Buttigieg protestors in Iowa have included fundamentalist Gary Boisclair and anti-abortion fanatic Randal Terry, who told NBC News that they had also heckled Sen. Cory Booker—another 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate—and planned to heckle Buttigieg some more.
