On CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich suggested that, for the time being at least, LGBT people need to “get over” being discriminated against by anti-gay businesses who argue they cannot serve gay customers because to do so would violate their ‘sincerely-held religious beliefs.'
Kasich made his remarks while discussing ‘right to discriminate' bills that are being peddled in states across the country. CNN's Dana Bash asked Kasich whether he would try and stop states from passing such laws. Kasich responded,“No, I wouldn't.”
He then added, “What I like to say is, just relax, if you don't like what somebody is doing, pray for them. And if you feel as though somebody is doing something wrong against you, can you just for a second get over it?”
DNC spokesperson TJ Helmstetter responded to Kasich's comments in a statement, saying,
“John Kasich can't have it both ways. Either you're for discrimination, or you're against it. To tell LGBT victims of discrimination to ‘just relax' and ‘get over it' is disrespectful, outrageous, and not the kind of leadership expected from a credible presidential candidate. Kasich can continue trying to put a friendly face on his party's discriminatory policies, but the fact remains that his own state remains a minefield for LGBT people who can still be fired for being who they are. As governor, Kasich has done nothing to help end discrimination against LGBT employees, and he was the final obstacle preventing marriage equality in Ohio before the Supreme Court's decision. Trump and Cruz may make a lot of people look reasonable by comparison, but Kasich is no ‘moderate.' He's certainly no friend to the LGBT community.”
Watch the video, below.
