Former Vice President Mike Pence was decidedly NOT happy when a group of LGBTQ+ students walked away from his speech while he was in the middle of complaining about the “woke agenda of the left.”

Pence was speechifying and taking questions at an event that was hosted by the Georgetown Institute of Politics in Washington, D.C. where he fumed about the “woke agenda”— a derisive phrase that seems to be the current darling of conservatives. Mediaite reports that he “punctuated his oratory with the stentorian hissing of a partially-obstructed and bone-dry nasal cavity.”

Pence launched full-tilt into complaining about the “intolerance” his views have received, prompting a group of students to file out quietly.

“As we gather here today, freedom is under attack like never before,” Pence told the crowd. “It seems like every day a new story breaks that says that big media, big government, big tech or big business have locked arms to advance a woke agenda designed to advance the policies and beliefs of the American Left and show intolerance to people that have divergent views. It seems to me that, having served many years in Washington, leaders in this country, this nation’s capitol, have never been more out of touch or more intent on imposing their agenda or —”

That was interrupted by a loud BOO! from an audience member.

At this point, the group of students walks out.

“Walking out on people that might have a different point of view.”

That leads to applause from the audience.

And that leads Pence to try and turn the situation around.

“Because, you know, the anthem of America is freedom,” he said. “There’s a cure for what ails our country and the divisions that we see in our politics today. And that’s freedom. And frankly, I’m very optimistic that in 20 days, we will soon have new majorities in the House and Senate and in state houses around America that will stand for freedom without apology.”

But in Pence’s mind and in his day-to-day efforts, so-called freedom is rooted in the oppression of others. Especially in regard to LGBTQ+ individuals. The former Vice President vehemently opposes marriage equality and has a well-established history of being against same-sex marriage. He signed the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2003, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, Teen Vogue reports.

And according to The Hill, some of the students who walked out were carrying LGBTQ+ symbols and they continued their protest outside during the remainder of Pence’s visit.

Conservatives like Pence just never seem to get it — they wield the word “freedom” like it’s some sort of shield that only they are allowed to use in order to obstruct other people from achieving their own personal freedom.

Well, the good news here is that the students who walked out used their own freedom to do so. And things along these lines should continue whenever Mike Pence voices his homophobia. Kudos to these students for speaking up silently and powerfully.

Protesters walk out on Mike Pence during remarks at Georgetown U. He takes note of during his prepared remarks: "Leaders in this nation have never been more out of touch, or more intent on…walking out on people that might have a different point of view" pic.twitter.com/U7EfIaeXCV

— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) October 20, 2022

Another view:

As Pence makes reference to “woke agenda”, some students at Georgetown University stand up and walk out: pic.twitter.com/sS9U3qGZKP

— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) October 19, 2022

Another view:

Mike Pence was speaking at Georgetown University tonight and students started to walk out. pic.twitter.com/VevTZdAMkQ

— Washingtonian Problems (@WashProbs) October 19, 2022