Irish premier Leo Varadkar said Thursday gay people should not be judged by their sexual orientation in a pointed speech in front of US Vice President Mike Pence, to which he brought his partner Matt Barrett.
Mr Varadkar, who is one of just three openly gay world leaders, made the comments during a meeting at the Washington residence of Mr Pence, who has previously been a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage.
Standing alongside his partner Dr Matt Barrett, the Irish Taoiseach posed for photographs with the Vice President and his sister Anne Pence Poynter on Thursday morning at the Naval Observatory.
Second Lady Karen Pence, who earlier this year drew criticism for teaching at a Virginia school that bars staff from condoning 'homosexual or lesbian sexuality activity' and 'transgender identity', was not present because she is in Abu Dhabi attending the Special Olympics.
The breakfast came on a day when the Irish prime minister was feted at the White House and Capitol to mark St Patrick's Day, which falls on Sunday.
He held Oval Office talks with Donald Trump and attended a bipartisan luncheon on Capitol Hill with both Trump and Congressional leaders including Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He and his partner Barrett were due at the White House again for a reception held jointly by the president and First Lady Melania Trump.
The invitation makes him the first same-sex partner of a world leader to be welcomed at the White House under Trump, and also the first unmarried partner.
Mr Varadkar said in front of the U.S Vice President that he was grateful to be judged not by his sexual orientation, skin tone, gender or religious beliefs in his role as Irish premier
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left), who is on an official visit to the United States, is accompanied by his partner Matt Barrett (right) as he stands in a group photograph with the US Vice President Mike Pence (second right) and the VP's sister Anne Pence Poynter at the VP's official residence in Washington DC
Matt Barrett (right), the partner of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, with the US Vice President Mike Pence (left), who has long been criticized by rights groups for his 'anti-LGBT' views and opposition to equal marriage
Ready to pose: Mike Pence guides Matt Barrett into place for a group photograph with (from left) the Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar and Pence's sister Anne Pence Poynter
Welcome: Leo Varadkar and Matt Barrett are greeted before the breakfast reception in the Naval Observatory, Pence's official residence as vice president
Warm words: Mike Pence hailed the relationship with Ireland and said he planned to take his mother Nancy there on a visit to the country where her father had immigrated from
At his speech in front of Pence Mr Varadkar said that growing up in Ireland he was fascinated by American politics, which inspired him to run for office and 'drive change'.
But he made sure that his visit to the capitol, which marked the first time a world leader has brought a same sex partner to President Trump's Washington, addressed the elephant in the room.
Talking about his boyhood interest in politics, Mr Varadkar said he 'knew at the time that I lived in a country where, if I tried to be myself at the time, it would have ended up breaking laws, but today that is all changed.
'I stand here leader of my country, flawed and human but judged by my political actions and not by my sexual orientation, my skin tone, gender or religious beliefs.'
Mr Varadkar added: 'I don't believe my country is the only one in the world where this story is possible.
'It's found in every country were freedom and liberty are cherished.
'We are, after all, all God's children.
'And that's true of the United States as well, the land of hope, brave and free.'
Mr Pence, who describes himself as a Christian and a conservative, extended an invitation to the couple during a meeting with Mr Varadkar last year.
They met for breakfast at the official residence of the Vice President, Number One Observatory Circle, which is located on the grounds of a US naval base.
Rights groups have consistently highlighted Mr Pence's record on LGBT issues, which they say includes an endorsement of the discredited practice of gay 'cure' therapy.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (right), with Mike Pence met on Thursday in Washington DC
White House greeting: The Irish prime minister was greeted by the president at the West Wing of the White House
Oval Office talks: Leo Varadkar sat down with Donald Trump in the White House after his breakfast with Mike Pence. It was purely business, with neither his partner nor the First Lady present
Capitol Hill greeting: Trump and Varadkar were guests of honor on Capitol Hill for the annual luncheon marking U.S.-Irish relations held by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence, who as vice president is speaker of the Senate
Address: Trump spoke briefly at the Friends of Ireland luncheon, a bipartisan event which is an annual fixture for presidents going back to Ronald Reagan
Top table: Leo Varadkar was beside Donald Trump and other top Washington figures at the Speaker's Luncheon for the Friends of Ireland
Group portrait: Before the Capitol Hill luncheon Trump posed with (from left) John Deasy, who is Irish special envoy to the U.S.; Vice President Mike Pence; Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Richard Neal; Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; New York Republican Congressman Peter King; and Ireland's Ambassador to the United States Daniel Mulhall
During Mr Pence's Congressional campaign in 2000, he proposed amending the Ryan White Care Act - which provided care for HIV patients - to stop funding for 'organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus'.
'Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behaviour,' Mr Pence added.
These comments were widely interpreted as an assault on LGBT groups and an endorsement of conversion therapy, which Mr Pence has denied.
In 2009, the then-Congressman from Indiana voted against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Named after a murdered gay teenager, it expanded the definition of 'hate crime' to include anti-gay acts.
Later, as governor of Indiana, Mr Pence introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which gave businesses leave to use their 'conscience' as a defence in legal disputes.
Mr Pence was later forced to amend the bill, after it was criticized for effectively legalizing discrimination against LGBT people.
Social media users voiced their appreciation for Varadkar's decision to bring his partner to meet Pence, with one user saying it made his day.
'That special day when Leo Varadkar—Ireland's young, openly gay, biracial son of an Indian immigrant—prime minister brings his partner to a meeting with Pence,' commented another.
'I hope they take many pictures.'
Pence, however, had been defended earlier this week by Ric Grenell, Trump's openly-gay ambassador to Germany. The vice-president swore in Grenell last May with the new ambassador's partner Matt Lashey holding the Bible.
Twitter users were appreciative of Mr Varadkar's decision to bring Dr Barrett with him to meet Mr Pence, with one saying it made his day
On his own Twitter account, Mr Varadkar said: 'Vice President Mike Pence invited me and Matt to his home at the Naval Observatory this morning.
'It's great to be back here for a really warm reception.'
Mr Varadkar is Ireland's first openly gay leader and one of only three openly gay national leaders in the world. The other two - the prime ministers of Luxembourg and Serbia - have not been invited to the White House.
The meeting comes on the second day of Mr Varadkar's St Patrick's Day tour in the US capital.
Later Mr Varadkar later met US president Donald Trump at the White House for the traditional St Patrick's Day shamrock ceremony.
US Vice President Mike Pence waves towards Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Mr Pence said that the US stands with Ireland as the UK continues to work through Brexit issues.
Addressing the breakfast meeting he said: 'The Irish have given so much to America and today the partnership between our two countries, as the Taoiseach knows, has never been stronger.
'The United States also stands with the Irish Republic as the United Kingdom continues to work through the issues of Brexit and we look forward to the day when we can even begin talks about expanding trade, a new trade agreement to grow our two economies and prosper both of our peoples.
'It's an honour to be with you here today.'
Mr Pence also confirmed he is planning a trip to visit Ireland. He said he is arranging a visit to the country with his mother, Nancy.
'I am happy to report to the Taoiseach that I have spoken to mom, first generation Irish-American and mother-of-nine, and she has confirmed that she will travel with us to Ireland and we are making plans to return to my grandfather's homestead as we speak,' Mr Pence said.
Mr Varadkar said: 'I really hope you will be able to accept my invitation to Ireland very soon and I can guarantee you a very warm welcome is waiting for you, especially in Co Sligo and Co Clare from where your forebears come.
'And you absolutely must bring your mother.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/14/leo-varadkar-says-sexuality-should-not-be-an-issue-in-front-of-mike-pence/
Main photo article Irish premier Leo Varadkar said Thursday gay people should not be judged by their sexual orientation in a pointed speech in front of US Vice President Mike Pence, to which he brought his partner Matt Barrett.
Mr Varadkar, who is one of just three openly gay world leaders, made the comments...
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Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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