Mike Pence fails to acknowledge the LGBT community in White House’s World HIV/Aids Day speech
The vice president also claimed the Trump administration is doing everything to combat the virus despite continually cutting funding
By Steve Brown
Mike Pence fails to acknowledge the LGBT community in his speech during the White House’s World HIV/Aids Day event, for the second year in a row.
During his speech, the vice president – who has been an open opponent of the LGBT community – failed to wear a HIV/Aids Day ribbon and went on the claim that the Trump administration was doing everything it could to battle against the virus.
He said: “It is a day to remember those who have lost their lives to Aids.
“But it’s also a day to celebrate the remarkable progress that we’ve made in combating this disease and to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat.
“We are closer today. Than ever before. To ending. The Aids crisis. In our time.”
He then continued: “Let me bring greetings from a friend of mine who is a leader committed to the health and well-being of the American people and has brought new and renewed American commitment to the fight against HIV/Aids here and around the world.
“I bring greetings from the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump.”
Despite claiming the Trump administration is working to fight the virus, the president has continually cut funds for HIV prevention and treatment and instead diverted money from the Ryan White HIV/Aids program to fund the horrific family separation policy,
Trump also fired the entire 16-member Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/Aids and has yet to restaff them.
He has also refused to appoint anyone to lead the White House Office of National Aids Policy and has announced a “Deploy or Get Out” rule which could translate to HIV-positive service members being kicked out of the military.
Watch his speech below: