‘We’ve Got A Queer Running For President!’ Tennessee Official Unleashes Homophobic Rant At Council Meeting

A county commissioner in Tennessee unleashed a racist, homophobic tirade on Monday evening targetting South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is a married gay man.

Sevier Country Commissioner Warren Hurst (R) took the floor on Oct. 21 to speak about the commission’s pending vote on becoming a gun sanctuary city, according to WVLT News.

“It’s time we wake up people, it’s time, it’s passed time,” Hurst said.

Hurst then turned his attention to the 2020 presidential race.

“We got a queer running for president, if that ain’t about as ugly as you can get,” he said.

“Look what we got running for president in the Democratic party,” he continued. “We can go over here to Hoss’s jail [Sevier County Sheriff] and get better people out of there than those running for democratic to be President of the United States.”

A woman in the audience stood up and shouted: “Excuse me. This is not professional. This is [expletive].”

The woman left the meeting, and Hurst made another comment about the state of white male rights in the country, according to WVLT.

“I’m not prejudiced, a white male in this country has very few rights and they’re getting took more every day,” said Hurst.

Hurst told WVLT News over the phone that some of his best friends were African American, but he stands by his comments because he’s entitled to his opinions.

After Hurst concluded his public comments, some members of the crowd applauded.

NEW: “We got a QUEER running for President… the white man has very few rights.”

Watch @SevierCounty Commissioner Warren Hurst’s homophobic, bigoted outburst Monday, telling folks to “wake up”.

Mayor’s office: 865-453-6136
Hurst: 865-453-8513

WVLT: https://t.co/GFwJLqehUf pic.twitter.com/bfXrAACfPh

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) October 22, 2019

Assistant to the Sevier County Mayor, Perrin Anderson denounced homophobic comments made at a commission meeting Monday evening.

“The statements made by Commissioner Hurst at the Sevier County Commission meeting of October 21, 2019, do not reflect the opinion or position of Sevier County administration,” Anderson said. “Sevier County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or status in any other group protected by law.”