Leo Varadkar, Ireland's prime minister, has travelled to America on a diplomatic visit, spending time with US vice president Mike Pence and his wife Karen.
Varadkar, one of the few openly gay world leaders, brought his partner, Matt Barrett, to meet the Pences. During a speech made at a breakfast hosted by Pence, Varadkar delivered remarks which people have interpreted as a nod to LGBT+ inclusion.
Thanks to the Vice President and his sister for a lovely morning at his home. What a great way to start this St Pat… https://t.co/3oQiyjwQEc— Leo Varadkar (@Leo Varadkar) 1552571557
Ireland’s first gay prime minister talked about the societal change that allowed him to become Ireland's first openly gay prime minister, judged by his ''political action'' not his sexual orientation, skin tone, gender or religious beliefs.
He said:
We are all God’s children.
Varadkar’s visit to see Pence might seem unusual because the vice president has an extensive anti-LGBT+ voting record. As governor of Indiana, he repeatedly voted against HIV/AIDS prevention funding, supporting the widely discredited “gay conversion therapy” as a sexual health measure. He is widely blamed for an HIV outbreak in Indiana while he was governor.
Given Pence’s anti-LGBT+ record, seeing one of the world’s only openly gay leaders embrace him so warmly was not welcomed by all.
so @campaignforleo, remember last year when we confronted you about PrEP access in Ireland? Meeting with a man who… https://t.co/sDnQmrWZ2i— Jason Rosenberg (@Jason Rosenberg) 1552594392
isn't it well for leo varadkar, a wealthy male right-wing tory-licking politician, to feel he isn't judged for his… https://t.co/EbXcuFL77W— venus as a bi (@venus as a bi) 1552602707
Though others saw the meeting as an important step forward.
Leo Varadkar taking his boyfriend to the White House to meet Mike Pence is the pick me up we all needed today https://t.co/BYUNVOHuDE— James 🏳️🌈 (@James 🏳️🌈) 1552577217
I'm not a big fan of Leo Varadkar. But I'm a HUGE fan of Leo Varadkar bringing his boyfriend to meet Mike Pence.— Damien Owens (@Damien Owens) 1552564332
@krassenstein I can't express in words how proud I am of Mr Varadkar and his partner! Make Love Great 💙— Irène Neuschwander (@Irène Neuschwander) 1552611898