MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart confronted Republican House candidate Leon Benjamin Sr. over a homophobic post he made in 2011.
During an interview on “The Sunday Show,” Capehart brought up Benjamin’s 2011 Facebook post, in which he likened gay people to those who are “sick,” have bipolar disorder, and are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
“You started this conversation by saying you were ‘running to be a bridge.’ You used the word unity. How is that being a bridge? How is that being a unifier for the 4th Congressional District of Virginia, that most likely has LGBTQ people in that district?” Capehart bluntly asked the GOP candidate.
“I think you’re looking at it in a different way,” Benjamin responded. “I think the LGBTQ are all facing high gas prices. I don’t think we should marginalize one group of people and use it for political gain. I think that the LGBTQ and the homosexuals are dealing with high gas prices, inflation, the high crime, the education. I think all of us are dealing with issues, and we shouldn’t marginalize them, and I think my compassion really shows strong enough.”
Benjamin is the Republican Party’s choice to represent Virginia in the U.S. House. He is seeking to fill the vacant seat left by the late Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin, who passed away only weeks after winning reelection in the midterm elections in November.
A Richmond native, pastor, and Navy veteran, Benjamin was nominated through a process in which voters ranked three candidates in order of preference. He previously unsuccessfully challenged McEachin.
The special election is scheduled for February 21. Benjamin will face Democratic state senator Jennifer McClellan, who won her party’s “firehouse primary.”
“Bring you sick, disease, gay, homosexual, lesbian, transvestite, bipolar, alcoholic, drug addiction friends and love ones!!!!!!!!!!” Benjamin had written in the 2011 post, inviting followers to a spiritual event at his church.
During the Sunday interview, Capehart rebutted that “as an out, gay, married man, I have a hard time finding compassion in that 2011 Facebook post.”
Benjamin then told Capehart to come to his church, assuring him that he “will not marginalize you.”
