Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg held a private campaign fundraiser in San Francisco on Friday, when he was met by a group of protesters holding “Queers Against Pete” signs.

Many of the demonstrators were from the group Queers Against Pete, an activist organization that argues the former South Bend, Ind., mayor's moderate policies do not fully represent the LGBTQ+ community.

In an open letter, the group wrote that “being gay is not enough to earn the support of LGBTQIA communities.”

Protesters interrupted the fundraiser at San Francisco’s National LGBTQ Center, with some chanting: “Hey Pete, stop it, put people over profit" and "Hey Pete, come out, we've got some things to talk about," according to SFGate. San Francisco-based members of the Democratic Socialists of America were also among those demonstrating.

“He can’t be using his gay card to propel his campaign,” one protester told a reporter, according to SFGate. “He is not representative of our community. He may be representative of part, but not all –– especially the most marginalized and disenfranchised ones.”

The same activist compared Buttigieg to prominent LGBTQ+ politicians Jose Sarris and Harvey Milk, who campaigned against community issues such as police brutality.

Speaking with The Guardian, activist Celi Tamayo-Lee said that while she is “proud” that an openly gay candidate has advanced so far in the national primaries, “it’s hard to enjoy or appreciate when his stances are so middle of the road and speak to a predominantly white, upper-class audience.”

Buttigieg’s lack of support for "Medicare for All" and free public college, as well as his financial support from billionaire donors, is giving members of the LGBTQ+ community pause.

Inside the event, The Guardian reported that activists disrupted a portion of the fundraiser where Buttigieg was taking a question about his husband, Chasten Buttigieg.

The rest of the crowd inside was quick to denounce the protesters, and Buttigieg responded onstage, saying, “I respect your activism, but this is a gathering for supporters of our campaign, and I just got a question about my husband and I’m really excited to answer it.” The crowd reportedly erupted in applause.

There was also a dialogue between the supporters and protesters, with one supporter shouting “You’re homophobes!” to the protesters, resulting in them firing back, “We’re all gay!”

“You’re homophobes, that’s what you all are, you’re homophobes!” a Buttigieg supporter yelled at the protesters after the event.



“We’re all gay!” a protester responded. https://t.co/4f8dlMvLK8 — Vivian Ho (@VivianHo) February 14, 2020

"You’re coming to San Francisco, the heart of gay activism in America,” Emily Lee, director of the San Francisco Rising Action Fund, who was among the protesters, told The Guardian. “You need to actually respond to the people of San Francisco who identify as gay or queer. It’s a very fitting place to be asking him these hard questions.”

According to ABC7 News in California, ticket prices ranged from $54 to $2,800.