Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty Challenged By Gay Teen Gabe Aderhold

An openly gay high school student from Minnesota on Friday confronted GOP presidential hopefuls Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann during campaign appearances in Iowa, to challenge their positions on marriage equality and LGBT rights.


Gabe Aderhold, 17, a senior at Edina High School in Edina, Minn., told Pawlenty, “You are discriminating against me and it hurts.”


I thought our country was about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for everyone, no exceptions. So Tim Pawlenty, I want to know — when will you stand up for me…because you are discriminating against me and it hurts, it really does.


Pawlenty: I understand we have a difference of opinion on this issue…the relationship between a man and a woman in a traditional marriage is important to our country, our society, our culture.


Pawlenty responded: “The relationship between a man and a woman in a traditional marriage is important to our country, our society, our culture. I think it should remain elevated, not just in our words, but under our laws – that's why I've supported laws, in fact have authored laws, to maintain marriage as between a man and a woman.”
The scrappy teen, however, continued, asking, “Why is government getting involved in our marriages?” and “Do you think I'm a second-class citizen?”
“We're just going to have a respectful disagreement, sir,” Pawlenty replied. (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
Aderhold also heckled Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who spoke for only 3 minutes and did not take questions.
“You treat me like a second-class citizen,” he shouted. “Shame on you.”
“You can't pray away the gay,” he screamed at Bachmann's husband, Marcus Bachmann, a reference to allegations that the couple's Christian counseling centers run by Marcus attempt to “cure” gay people.