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Mike Pence Can’t Admit His Homophobic “Joke” Towards Pete Buttigieg Just Wasn’t That Funny

By Joshua Donovan

Posted on March 22, 2023

Mike Pence (Wikimedia Commons)

Former Vice President Mike Pence is facing criticism after he made a homophobic joke at The Gridiron Dinner directed at Secretary Of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The joke involved Buttigieg taking “maternity leave” to care for his premature twins. Despite backlash, Pence has doubled down on his comments, reports Q News.

The White House is asking former Vice Pres. Mike Pence to apologize for what it called a "homophobic joke" he made over the weekend geared at Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg. https://t.co/yPFOcgUxIa
— ABC News (@ABC) March 13, 2023

IT’S THE AUDACITY OF IT ALL

It was at The Gridiron Dinner on March 11 that former-Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech designed in part to be comedic. There were mentions of Donald Trump’s part in the January 6 insurrection, Pence’s own image as a religious zealot and, quite contentiously, a joke about Pete Buttigieg that leaned more to homophobia than humour, reports Politico.

Critics found the joke pertaining to Buttigieg to be off-coloured and inappropriate considering Pence was joking that the Secretary Of Transportation needed “maternity leave” while Buttigieg was tending to his prematurely-born children in NICU, reports Q News.

The attacks on Pete Buttigieg from Mike Pence and the Republicans are disgusting. When I met him at the White House he was kind, humble, intelligent and welcoming. Gen Z stands with him. pic.twitter.com/oVojIakOHo
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) March 13, 2023

Mike Pence is just jealous of @PeteButtigieg's incredible abilities and TRUE family values. Also, Mike, you will never be president, but Secretary Pete will.
— Parker Krex (@ParkerKrex) March 20, 2023

He’s a spineless, expressionless, calculating waste of space.
— julianne phillips (@juliann38915202) March 14, 2023

The White House asked former Vice Pres. Mike Pence to apologize for what it called a "homophobic joke" he made over the weekend geared at Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg. https://t.co/cAiaZQ0tRX
— ABC News (@ABC) March 14, 2023

In response to the backlash, Pence has defended his remarks stating that it was simply a joke and that Buttigieg should be able to take it. “The only thing I can figure is Pete Buttigieg not only can’t do his job, but he can’t take a joke,” says the former VP.

Buttigieg, who is openly gay, has kept his commentary measured but his husband Chasten Buttigieg has been openly vocal about his displeasure. “An honest question for you, MikePence, after your attempted joke this weekend. If your child was born prematurely and placed on a ventilator at two months old – their tiny fingers wrapped around yours as the monitors beep in the background – where would you be?”

An honest question for you, @Mike_Pence, after your attempted joke this weekend. If your grandchild was born prematurely and placed on a ventilator at two months old – their tiny fingers wrapped around yours as the monitors beep in the background – where would you be? pic.twitter.com/pCWvl8pb5N
— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) March 13, 2023

According to Q News, The White House has issued a statement criticising Pence’s behaviour at The Gridiron Dinner and called for him to respond in accordance with the respect and protocol expected of a high-ranking politician. “He should apologise to women and LGBTQIA+ people, who are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect,” says White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

As of the time of writing, Mike Pence has not issued any official statements or apologies.