Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he would love his children if they were gay in response to a question Thursday.
The governor had just ended a yet-to-air event with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews when a reporter asked Kasich a question saying she was seeking to follow up on Matthews’ line of questioning.
“What would you tell your own children if they came out and said that they were gay or homosexual?” a female reporter asked.
“I would say, ‘I love you girls,’ end of it,” Kasich said without hesitation. His aide then interjected that the governor had time for one more question, seemingly disrupting the possibility of a follow-up.
Contentious social issues have not dominated the conversation on the Republican campaign trail, with the notable exception of Matthews’ recent exchange with Donald Trump about abortion. Trump told Matthews that women who have abortions should be punished by the government, which was an assertion he later walked back.
Kasich’s remarks appear to follow the thinking of Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, whose stance on the issue could matter in a contested reelection bid this fall. Three years ago, Portman announced that he had adopted a pro-gay marriage position after learning his son was gay.
Kasich, who describes himself as the “Prince of Light and Hope,” has grown fond of hugging attendees of his campaign events as part of his effort to appear inclusive. He is campaigning in New York on Thursday and Friday.
