Who is Mike Pence? Currently, most Americans know him only as the Vice President-elect who was victorious alongside Donald Trump in this year’s presidential election; however, it is important for citizens to understand his policies and stances in order to comprehend how his voice will impact actions made by the executive branch during the next four years.

Best known for his terms as the governor of Indiana and as a congressman, Pence has long-held conservative stances on LGBTQ rights, abortion laws, and Syrian refugees. In 2000, he won a seat in the House of Representatives, and was quick to voice his stringent stances, describing himself as “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.” As a congressman, Pence was outspoken in his opposition against President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind policy in 2001, as well as against the Medicare prescription drug expansion in 2002.

Despite the media controversy that his extremely conservative policies garner, Pence won the nomination for governor of Indiana in 2011. He remained a steadfast conservative throughout the years, beginning his term with a plan to defund to Planned Parenthood. Vowing to pursue the predilections of the people, Pence also approved of a $1.1 billion tax cut, the largest in the state’s history, two years later. Moreover, he signed into law the state’s first pre-K funding program and supported funding towards infrastructure improvements.

Perhaps the most memorable of Pence’s stances are his viewpoints on LGBTQ and abortion rights. In a 2006 speech, after voicing his support of a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman, he stated that “societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family.” Moreover, he expressed his perception that homosexuality is a choice and that preventing same-sex marriage is not discrimination, but rather an enforcement of “God’s idea.”

In 2015, he signed a religious freedom bill that fostered much controversy, as opponents argued that it sanctioned discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community. Likewise, Pence favors the military policy of prohibiting soldiers from being openly gay, and rejected Obama’s directive that allowed transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with, responding that “the federal government has no business getting involved in issues of this nature.”

After the 2016 election, Pence has remained loyal to his 2011 viewpoints, renewing his commitment to strip Planned Parenthood of all federal funding in an effort to stop abortions. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, stated in an interview, “He’s the only one I know who has been so completely obsessed with Planned Parenthood. This just seems to be an enormous focus of his.” Whether his plan to defund the organization becomes successful, however, will be left to Congress.

Pence also has an infamous stance on American treatment of Syrian refugees. As governor, Pence articulated his desire to keep refugees out of Indiana. Both he and Trump, citing the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, maintain rigid, divisive Syrian refugee policies, drawing both harsh opposition and emphatic approval.

What do Pence’s conservative perspectives mean for the future of America? For now, only time can tell. However, many Ridge students have voiced their personal opinions regarding Pence’s new position of governmental power.

Kishan Gandham ‘19 states, “Mike Pence is not fit to run our government. The governor legitimizing the right of businesses to discriminate against any sexuality is downright shameful. Second of all, with a man like Pence in office, it is clear that the right of women to make basic decisions is gone. He quite literally denies women access to much-needed healthcare by shutting down any organization that believes in abortion rights—and frankly that is not right…With Pence as our vice-president elect, be afraid.”

Kyanna Ouyang ‘18 voices similar thoughts on the potential dangers of Pence as a member of Trump’s cabinet, insisting, “The vice presidency of Mike Pence, Republican, conservative and Tea Party supporter, poses a significant threat to the future of America, economically, politically, and most importantly, socially.”

Though both Republicans and members of the LGBTQ community have approached Pence with criticism on his extreme conservatism, Pence will continue his crusade against liberalism throughout his time as the Vice President. What does this mean for Ridge students overall?

In a time of political unrest, knowing Pence’s stance and voicing one’s opinions is crucial; as Americans, we have the opportunity to work with politicians toward the advancement of our country. Thus, grasping our politicians’ stances is the first step in collaborating with them to communicate our individual opinions and visions for the future of the country.