Vice President Mike Pence's political brand is one of a devout Christian who has a long history of supporting anti-LGBTQ policies. Because for some bizarre reason, people are concerned about what people do in the privacy of their own bedroom.
He opposed the bill that allows gays to serve in the military. He spoke at the openly anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council's annual conference in 2018, and as Governor of Indiana, signed a bill into law that allowed people to discriminate against the LGBTQ community under the guise of religious freedom.
He obviously missed the part of the Bible that says "love thy neighbor."
RELATED: Mayor Pete brilliantly points out the hypocrisy of Mike Pence's homophobia in viral speech.
On Wednesday, Pence became the first American Vice President to visit Iceland, a country of just 350,000 people, since George H.W. Bush went to Reykjavík in 1983.
Iceland is one of the most pro-LGBTQ countries in the world. It allows any two people to marry regardless of sex or gender and the Church of Iceland also allows same-sex marriage in its churches. Clearly, Mike Pence would not be a member of this church.
Over 20 years ago, Iceland made it illegal to refuse people, goods, or services on account of their sexual orientation, or to attack a person or group of people publicly with mockery, defamation, abuse, or threats because of their sexual orientation.
The U.S. still doesn't have any such law on the federal books. If it did, Mike Pence would probably try to have it repealed.
When Pence arrived in Iceland, he was greeted by a barrage of LGBTQ pride flags being flown at the Höfði House where he met with Iceland's president, Guðni Jóhannesson.
The Höfði House is best known as the location of the 1986 Reykjavík Summit meeting of presidents Ronald Reagan of the United States and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. That effectively was a step to the end of the Cold War.
RELATED: His remarks got under Mike Pence's skin. So the VP asked to meet. It … didn't work out.
Within the building, the flags of the United States and the Soviet Union are cross-hung to commemorate the meeting.
An office park opposite the historic building also decided to fly rainbow flags for the occasion as well. "We just felt the need to celebrate diversity today and wanted to show that by flying the flags," Ægir Már Þórisson, the company's director, said according to The Guardian.
so at his stop at Höfði (house where Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Reykjavík occurred), @vp was met by this not-so-subtle display and then the mayor said he grieved the loss of the INF treaty that emerged from the summit but was recently withdrawn from by the trump administration pic.twitter.com/89P8nQmupc
— Justin Sink (@justinsink) September 4, 2019
Here's a great example of why I'm proud to be from Iceland 🇮🇸Mike Pence is visiting the country and everyone is outraged. Mayor of Reykjavik, all the biggest firms and companies, everyone, they're all flying the gay flag. All Pence will see everywhere on his visit is gay gay gay. pic.twitter.com/XemgBk7TjU
— Heklina (@Heklina) September 4, 2019
So America's bigot Mike Pence has arrived here in my country, and what does Iceland do? Welcomes him with Pride flags 😂🙌 pic.twitter.com/OJZjp0aE1s
— ★natasja★ (@miss_menorah) September 4, 2019
When Pence met with Jóhannesson, the president was wearing a rainbow bracelet, just like he wore when he met with another massive homophobe, Vladirmir Putin of Russia.
Good on the people of Iceland to proudly display their belief in freedom and equality. Maybe it'll inspire Americans like Pence to one day embrace the same ideas.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.