Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke defended his mayor challenger, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, after he was reportedly shaken by anti-gay protesters who crashed in Texas on Friday .
"Texans do not support this kind of homophobia and hatred," said O'Rourke, who represented the state as a member of Congress. "Mayor Pete, we appreciate your coming to Texas and look forward to seeing you and Chasten again soon."
According to a CNN reporter, Buttigieg, an openly gay, Christian, married to her husband Chasten Buttigieg, was confronted at the Dallas County Democratic Party dinner by opponents who shouted expressions such as "repent" and "marriage." is a man and a woman. "
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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 23: The mayor of South Bend, in Indiana, Pete Buttigeig, speaks at a press conference on January 23, 2019 in Washington, DC. Buttigeig held a press conference to announce that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
END OF NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS – Episode 547 – Pictured: (left) Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, during an interview with host Seth Meyers on June 22, 2017 – ( Photo by: Lloyd Bishop / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, in central Indiana, talks with attendees during a campaign stop in Ankeny, Iowa, United States , Friday, February 8, 2019. A wave of proposals to impose new taxes on the ultra-rich, extend health insurance to all Americans and ensure that the university is debt-free reflects the rapid change of the party Democrat who sees in a brutal left turn the way to overthrow President Donald Trump. Photographer: Daniel Acker / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, speaking at a campaign stop in Ankeny, Iowa, United States, on Friday, February 8, 2019 A wave of proposals to impose new taxes on ultra-rich, expand health insurance to all Americans and the fact that the university is debt free reflect the rapid change of the Democratic Party, who sees in a brutal left turn the way to defeat President Donald Trump. Photographer: Daniel Acker / Bloomberg via Getty Images
THE VIEW – The mayor of South Bend, in Indiana, and the Democratic presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg, are visiting 'The View & # 39; on ABC on Thursday, January 31, 2019. "The View & # 39; is broadcast Monday to Friday (11 am-12pm, New York time). on the ABC television network.
(Photo by Lorenzo Bevilaqua / ABC via Getty Images)
JOY BEHAR, PETER BUTTIGIEG, SOLEIL HOSTIN
Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, who is studying for a presidential candidacy, speaks at the University of Chicago on February 13, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joshua Lott / AFP) (Photo credit should match JOSHUA LOTT / AFP / Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 14: The 32nd Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg arrive at The Late Show With Stephen Colbert at Ed Sullivan Theater on February 14, 2019 in New York. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo / GC Images)
AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 09: Pete Buttigieg sings on stage at America's Future Conference: Mayor Pete Buttigieg at the 2019 SXSW Conference in Austin City Limits lives at Moody's Theater on March 8, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Hutton Supancic / Getty Images for SXSW)
New York – February 13: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Pete Buttigieg invited to the show on Thursday, February 14, 2019. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk / CBS via Getty Images)
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Buttigieg stressed the need for tolerance and acceptance, not only against his critics during public speeches, but even with Vice President Mike Pence, who has repeatedly expressed anti-gay views.
Last month, the Mayor called Pence at the annual LGBTQ Victory Fund brunch, where he told "Mike Pences of the World": "If you have a problem with who I am, your problem is not. not with me. Your argument, sir, is with my creator.
If he was elected, Buttigieg would be the country's first openly gay president.
The May 13 cover of Time Magazine acknowledged the presidency that could make history by starring Buttigieg and Chasten and described the couple as "First Family".
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
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