Mike Pence is perhaps one of the most anti-LGBTQ evangelical Christian political crusaders to serve in Congress and as governor of a state. Long before he signed the draconian anti-LGBTQ "religious liberty" law in Indiana last year, he supported "conversion therapy" as a member of Congress, and later as a columnist and radio host, he gave a speech in which he said that marriage equality would lead to "societal collapse," and called homosexuality "a choice." Stopping gays from marrying wasn't biased, he said, but was rather about compelling "God's idea."
Scary individuals and religious bigots have prominent positions in the Trump administration. Ben Carson, compared homosexuality to pedophilia and incest is vice chairman of the transition team. Newt Gingrich, attacked what he called "gay fascism" around LGBTQ rights. Ken Blackwell, formerly the Ohio secretary of state has been appointed to lead domestic policy on the transition team. Blackwell has compared homosexuality to arson and kleptomania, which he called "compulsions."
President Trump met with religious extremists, and made promises to them. He promised he would put justices on the Supreme Court who would overturn marriage equality which he has consistently opposed himself since 2000. He promised that he would sign the First Amendment Defense Act, which would all for discrimination against LGBT people by government employees and others.
It may or may not be difficult or unrealistic to overturn marriage equality over time, though the anti-equality National Organization for Marriage, which backed Trump in the election, has sent Trump a plan. But by passing bills like FADA--already introduced in the Republican controlled Senate and House--and others yet to come, gay marriage can be made into a kind of second-class marriage. Clerks like Kim Davis can be given exemptions from giving marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Federal employees would be able to decline interactions with gay and lesbian married couples. Businesses such as bakers and florists, who've become flash points in some states where they refused to serve gays, could be granted the ability to turn away gays under federal law and all that could lead to a much more conservative Supreme Court if challenged.
Mike Pence has already said that he and Trump plan to withdraw federal guidance to the states issued by the Obama administration protecting transgender students. If Trump is as hands-off on LGBTQ issues as president as he was at the Republican National Convention, letting people like Pence, possibly the most powerful vice president ever -- get his way, along with people like Carson, Blackwell, Gingrich and likely many others, you can bet the that assault on LGBTQ rights is already underway. It is only a matter of time before we know the full magnitude.
