U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Sunday that she and her family were booed leaving a New York City restaurant during the city's Pride Parade, leading some on the left to criticize her views on LGBT issues.
Haley tweeted that patrons also said "hateful things" to her family, noting that she was with her 15-year-old son Nalin.
"Our country is better than this," she added.
We,incl my son, were booed by patrons saying hateful things as we left lunch @ Pride Parade.Our country is better than this. #HateNeverWins
— Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) June 25, 2017
Critics on the left responded to Haley's tweet by arguing that the former South Carolina governor deserved the criticism for her conservative record and service in the Trump administration.
Well, @nikkihaley opposes trans protections, tried to oppose SSMs from other states, and now works for Trump. So yeah, she was booed.
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) June 26, 2017
Nikki Haley defended a gay marriage ban in South Carolina and has the audacity to act holier than thou about being booed at a PRIDE parade.
— Euclid (@Deuce1042) June 26, 2017
In 2013, Haley opposed a federal lawsuit challenging an amendment in South Carolina's constitution that banned same-sex marriage. She defended South Carolina's position until the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. Neither Haley nor the Trump administration support trying to reverse the court's decision.
Haley said last year while delivering the Republican response to former President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address that a Republican president would "respect differences in modern families, but we would also insist on respect for religious liberty as a cornerstone of our democracy."
President Donald Trump has called same-sex marriage "settled" law and said he is "fine" with it. He appeared at campaign rallies with a gay pride flag.
A New York talent agent tweeted that he and others at the New York restaurant were respectful of Haley, adding that she "should not malign the LGBT community by the actions of a few" who were there.
NIkki- I was there at that restaurant. We treated you with respect. You should not malign the #LGBT community by the actions of a few.
— Jamie Harris (@jamieharrisnyc) June 26, 2017
Haley posted on Instagram to celebrate spending the day with loved ones, using the hashtag #BooedButSmiling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVyDqDfjO-H/
Many other social media users, including the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative group that advocates LGBT rights, expressed its support for Haley.
Log Cabin Republicans stands with YOU Ambassador! The ignorant haters do not represent us! https://t.co/lP1OEa0VSB
— LogCabinRepublicans (@LogCabinGOP) June 26, 2017