Pence: Criticism of Wife’s Job at Anti-LGBT Christian School ‘Deeply Offensive to Us’

What’s the story?

• Vice President Mike Pence is pushing back against critics questioning his wife’s new job at private school that excludes LGBT+ students and faculty.

Karen Pence recently accepted a part-time job teaching art at Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, VA, which bars teachers from engaging in or condoning “homosexual or lesbian sexual activity" and "transgender identity.”

“My wife and I have been in the public eye for quite a while. We’re used to the criticism,” the vice president said in an interview with Eternal Word Television Network. “But I have to tell you, to see major news organizations attacking Christian education, is deeply offensive to us.”

He continued:

"We have a rich tradition in America of Christian education and, frankly, religious education broadly defined. We celebrate it. The freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution prohibits a religious test for holding a public office and so we’ll let the other critics roll off our back, but this criticism of Christian education in America should stop.”

What are both sides saying?

"Mrs. Pence has returned to the school where she previously taught for 12 years," the second lady's spokeswoman Kara Brooks said in a statement.

"It's absurd that her decision to teach art to children at a Christian school, and the school's religious beliefs, are under attack."

Human rights and LGBTQ+ organizations didn’t see it quite the same way.

What do you think?

Is this about freedom of religion or discrimination? Do you support the second lady teaching at a school that discriminates against LGBTQ+ students? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Gabriel Silva)