MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart asked Republican House candidate Leon Benjamin about his homophobic Facebook post at the end of an interview on Sunday. (You can watch Capehart’s interview with Benjamin below).
Capehart went after GOP candidates and pastors who were hoping to win a special election in February and fill the seat vacated by the late Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), who died in November.
“You used the word unity. How do you become a bridge? How do you become a unifier for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District, which likely has LGBTQ people in the district? asked Capehart.
Benjamin’s response then surprised the host.
“I think you look at it in a different way,” Benjamin said.
He added: “I think LGBTQ people are all facing high gas prices. I don’t think we should marginalize one group of people and use that for political gain. I think LGBTQ and homosexuals are dealing with high gas prices, inflation, high crime, education. I think we’re all dealing with issues, and we shouldn’t marginalize them, and I think my compassion is pretty strong.
Capehart fired back at Benjamin by saying something about his own identity.
“As an out, gay, married person, I have a hard time finding compassion in the 2011 post,” Capehart told Benjamin before the candidate said he “will not marginalize” people.