Mike Pence called ‘gay’ during New Hampshire campaign stop

Speaking to reporters about his campaign, Pence explained why he was running.

"We're running because we simply believe, with all humility, that I'm the most qualified, most experienced, the most tested conservative seeking the nomination," Pence said as camera shutters clicked.

At that, one of the crowd of reporters piped up, asking "Mike Pence, are you gonna tell them? Tell them."

Pence ignored him, continuing his campaign message. "We're gonna commit our campaign to the American people," he said.

"You promised today was our coming out day," the man in the crowd said, speaking over Pence. "Mike Pence you are gay," he said.

"We commit our campaign to uh," Pence tried to continue.

"You're gay, here's the proof," the man said. "Mike Pence, I'll admit your John Deere is bigger than mine."

"I apologize for that, please go ahead," said a man in a suit, trying to grab hold of the situation.

"We don't know what the future hold for our little family," Pence continued, "but we know who holds the future. We entrust ourselves to the judgement of the people of the Granite State. We're going to trust ourself to the judgement of the American people."

Pence was campaigning in New Hampshire seeking the nomination of the Republican party to run for president in 2024 against Joe Biden, or whoever the Democrats manage to bring to the ballot. Pence was vice president under President Donald Trump, who is the leading contender for that nomination.

Pence has made it to the debate stage for the Republican National Convention twice, though he has not managed to break out of single digits in polling. He has consistently slammed President Trump, who leads in polls and in the party, and has distanced himself from Trump's anti-war, bilateral approach to foreign policy.

Pence is a supporter of American intervention in the war in Ukraine, and has previously made remarks opposing gay marriage in the United States. He's also said that he would not meet with a woman alone, without others president.

A student asked Pence in April 2022 what he would say to a child of his own who was gay. "I'd look him in the eye and say I love you," Pence said.

"But let me say on this issue," Pence said at the time, "if we got to know each other, you'd know the Pences love everybody. We treat everybody the way we want to be treated. But on this issue, and it's frankly something that when the Obergefell decision was made which legalized same-sex marriage in America, the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy wrote at the end, that this decision will likely create an intersection and tension between people in same-sex relationships and people in the exercise of their religious liberty."