Vice President Mike Pence is planning on speaking about Venezuela at the Baker Institute at Rice University on Friday, April 5th at approximately 12:30 - 1:30pm.
Vice President Pence has consistently demonstrated his violent intolerance of LGBTQ+ identities through his support of oppressive policies aimed at stripping liberty, safety, and wellbeing from queer people. Countless members of the Rice LGBTQ+ community have voiced their concern at the Baker Institute's invitation, which they feel represents a lack of concern for the issues which make everyday life difficult for queer people both here at Rice and beyond. We ask that the administration withdraw their invitation as a show of their genuine concern for the LGBTQ+ people at this university and and for the larger issues LGBTQ+ people face throughout this country.
The Vice President has also voiced support for the current executive administration's American First policy, which has from its inception been grounded in dehumanization of both immigrants and Americans of non-Anglo descent. The conversation about the crisis in Venezuela which the Baker Institute has organized represents a valuable and necessary addition to the discourse of this university; however, the inclusion of the Vice President, who has shown a consistent lack of regard for the rights and wellbeing of immigrants, an overwhelming support for inhumane policies targeting POC, and a support for extravagant and expensive displays of white nationalist values, is in every way against the constructive objects of this symposium and of this university as a whole.
The values of this university have been clearly expressed: Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence. The invitation of Vice President Pence goes against every one of these values. Its disregard for both LGBTQ+ people and POC on Rice campus is clearly expressed in Pence's own policies. The administration's disregard for the concerns which have been voiced by many members of the student body and beyond is demonstrated in its willingness to support an event which centers a man who makes many in our community unsafe both beyond the hedges and here at Rice. The racist and outdated rhetoric and worldview which is expressed in Vice President Pence's violates this university's continual striving for excellence.
We ask that the administration withdraw their invitation of the Vice President to the Baker Institute and Rice University as a show of their commitment to the voices and concerns of their own community.
Only the aggregate results of this petition (total number of students/faculty/etc.) and anonymized additional statements will be sent to the Director of the Baker Institute, Edward P. Djerejian, and the President of Rice University, David Leebron, as well as any other relevant administration.
Mike Pence's voting record:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Pence.htm?fbclid=IwAR1zYbJVoR7NOGmxhqfcvrl8uGiNujLqDoUs6WI-9SSIROcrgoqLAF-eIdc#ImmigrationMike Pence's track record with LGBTQ+ issues:
https://www.glaad.org/tap/mike-penceEvent Information:
http://news.rice.edu/2019/03/28/vice-president-mike-pence-to-deliver-remarks-about-venezuela-at-rice-april-5/