EDUCATION/LGBTQ/MIKE PENCE/TRUMP PEOPLE: “In the upside-down logic of conservative religious politics, then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence framed a law that permitted discrimination to be about ‘freedom’ and sparked such outrage — ‘Fix this now’ demanded Indiana’s leading paper — that he had to reverse it. Now it’s Karen Pence, the vice president’s wife, who’s stirring controversy by associating herself with bigoted ideas. She’s getting help in this regard from President Trump. A teacher who embraced art therapy as a cause when she became second lady, Pence recently went to work at Immanuel Christian school in Virginia, a school at which she previously taught for 12 years while her husband was serving in Congress and where job applicants are asked to disavow marriage equality for gay adults and transgender identity is treated as ‘moral misconduct’…In this case, Karen Pence has created division in a field where professionals who would rather be helping others have been in conflict among themselves over the second lady’s bigoted views. The Pences clearly don’t understand the polarizing nature of the issue: ‘It’s absurd that her decision to teach art to children at a Christian school, and the school’s religious beliefs, are under attack,’ said a spokeswoman for Pence.”
–Michael D’Antonio, “Trump praises Karen Pence while controversy over her role simmers,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, February 7, 2019 9:27 pm