Meeting Mike Hot-Pence at Carmel Pride

If I had been allowed to editorialize when I was managing editor of NUVO back in 2020 and 2021, I might have actually had some positive words for Mike Pence, who refused to overthrow the 2020 presidential election at the ORANGEFUCKWAD’s request. I might have also had some kind words for him due to the fact that his compromise with the Obama administration allowed the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0 to go forward, giving hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers access to low-cost or free healthcare (I am among the beneficiaries of this program.)

I wasn’t thinking of Mike Pence when I was walking through Carmel Pride this afternoon, which was taking place outdoors at the Carter Green, adjacent to the Palladium, when I saw a man who was a dead-ringer for the former governor and vice president. But why would he be here, on today of all days? Pence was certainly no ally to the LGBTQ+ community, granted, especially considering his signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, which detractors say codified discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

But here the dude was, standing in the middle of the festivities and booths and live music with his signature crewcut white hairdo, wearing a suit jacket and blue collared shirt. However, there were some very un-Pence like touches to his wardrobe. I’m taking about the rainbow-tie and tube socks, of course. And how could I forget the blue short shorts?

I walked up and asked him if he was, in fact, Mike Pence. I figured he got that all the time, but he disabused me of that notion. He was, in fact, a New Yorker by the name of Glen Pannell, AKA Mike Hot-Pence. He was holding a bucket for contributions to Indiana Youth Group, which according to the mission statement posted on its website, “strives to provide safer spaces to build self-confidence, explore individualism, and develop friendships within the LGBTQ+ community.” A graphic designer by trade, he has been raising money for such causes since the 2016 presidential election, and he has raised upwards of $50,000 for various LGBTQ+ causes.

I asked him if he ever had occasion to run into Pence in person. He told me no, that hadn’t ever happened.

After our brief encounter, I wondered if Greg Pence, Mike’s brother—a Republican who represents the Indiana 6th district in the House of Representatives—might be lurking around somewhere on the Carter Green.

I wondered whether they’d recognize each other. More crucially, I wondered if Greg Pence would recognize their common humanity. The way things are going in this country, I think it’s a legitimate question.