Media banned from Mike Pence and Irish PM’s meeting

In a highly unusual move, the White House has banned all press from a meeting with Mike Pence and Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar. There will be no joint press conference either, and no public comments. Sources within the Irish government say the PM is “not happy” with the decision.

Varadka has previously vowed to use his one-on-one time with the US Vice President to challenge him on his administration’s anti-LGBT+ policies. Varadka is openly gay – only the fourth openly gay world leader in history.

Speaking to the Irish Parliament ahead of the annual visit to America for St. Patrick’s Day, he said: “(America and Ireland) are two countries which have very strong links. They are cultural – they run in our blood, most of us have American family and many Americans have Irish family – and they are economic. They are extremely important and I want to maintain and strengthen them. They will outlast any president or Taoiseach and it is important that we see everything from that perspective.

“There are many of Donald Trump’s policies with which I do not agree. I do not agree with him on migration, climate change or trade. I am very much a supporter of free trade and the politics of Donald Trump are much closer to those of Deputy Paul Murphy on that particular issue. I also believe very strongly in individual freedom, which encompasses women’s right and the rights of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.”

Mike Pence is well known as a devout evangelical. In nearly two decades in politics, he has never once supported pro-LGBT reforms. He has actively voted against hate crime laws, gay people serving in the military, and discrimination laws that would have protected LGBT+ people.

Tim Gibson - mygwork

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