Stunning.

Mike Pence’s 2000 Congressional campaign website reads like a war against the very people he now claims he “abhors” discrimination against.

If anyone is surprised Gov. Mike PenceÂ signed the anti-gay license to discriminate bill known as the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and refuses to sign an LGBT nondiscrimination bill, they have only to look at his deep anti-LGBT history.

In 1988 and 1990, Mike Pence tried to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He lost each time.

But apparently, the third time is the charm. In 2000, Pence ran for and won a seat in Congress, Indiana’s 2nd District.

To get there, Pence had no trouble making sure voters knew who he was targeting.

Thanks to the Internet Archive, which stores many versions of websites, Pence’s 2000 campaign website has been preserved.

It includes stunningly harsh anti-LGBT and anti-women rhetoric that sounds like it could have been written by the Moral Majority, theÂ Family Research Council, theÂ American Family Association, or other hate groups, past or present.

“I often describe myself as a ‘Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order,'” Pence wrote. “Accordingly, my Christian faith is the principle characteristic of my life and, like millions of other Americans, I am preoccupied with the defense and the promotion of the interests of the state and the people of Israel.”

Under headings like “Restoring Moral Integrity,” and “Strengthening the American Family,” Pence outlined his “Guide To Renewing The America Dream,” which all but outright declared a war against LGBT people and women.

Some excerpts:

“Congress should support the return of voluntary school prayer to the classrooms of our public schools.”

“Congress should develop new programs to strengthen marriage and reduce out of wedlock births.”

“The traditional two parent family is the nucleus of our civilization.”

“The unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed. Roe vs.. [sic] Wade was legally poorly conceived and morally wrong and should be overturned.”

“Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage.”

“Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexualâ€™s [sic] as a ‘discreet and insular minority’ entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.”Â

“Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

It’s unclear if that was an attempt to offer support for harmful “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapy practices.

Pence also called for “an end to gender mixed basic training and gender mixed housing on military bases,” “an end to assigning women to combat support units,” and, “an end to the ‘donâ€™t ask/donâ€™t tell’ policy of permitting homosexuals to serve in the armed forces. Homosexuality is incompatible with military service because the presence of homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion.”

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Hat tip: Nathan Dunbar

Image via Archive.org

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