6 key moments from the CNN/HRC LGBTQ Town Hall

Last night, CNN and HRC hosted the LGBTQ Town Hall with the top 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidates at UCLA.

Here are some of the stand-out moments.

Related: Bernie Sanders is the only Democratic frontrunner who will skip both LGBTQ debates

1. Elizabeth Warren slayed a question on religion-based bigotry

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Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was asked what she would tell a supporter who said they are “traditional” and believe that marriage is between one man and one woman.

“Well, I’m going to assume it’s a guy who said that and I’m going to say, ‘Then just marry one woman. I’m cool with that.’”

The audience cheered, but then she delivered a zinger: “Assuming you can find one.”

She then went on to explain how she learned in church to be accepting of diversity and how she doesn’t believe that religion can be a reason to be hateful.

2. Trans Lives Matter protested while Mayor Pete Buttigieg was being asked a question

When CNN host Anderson Cooper was about to ask South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg his first question, some people in the audience unfurled transgender flags and started chanting “trans lives matter.”

Cooper asked the audience to applaud the protestors: “Let me just point out there is a long and proud history in the gay, lesbian and transgender community of protest, and we applaud them for their protest. They’re absolutely right to be angry and upset by the lack of attention, particularly in the media, on the lives of transgender people.”

Someone off-stage who couldn’t really be heard sounded like she was scolding Cooper for not enforcing the rules of the forum.

Before Buttigieg answered his first question, he took a moment to recognize the protestors.

“Thank you for your question, and before I turn to it, I do want to acknowledge what these demonstrators were speaking about, which is the epidemic of violence against black trans women in this country right now,” he said. “And I believe, or would like to believe, that everybody here is committed to ending that epidemic.”

3. Joe Biden said something about “gay, gay bathhouses” that has already been remixed

Former Vice President Joe Biden was asked a question about health disparities, particularly when it comes to HIV, and he responded with something about “gay, gay bathhouses” and “round-the-clock sex.”

Someone has already remixed Biden’s response.

Biden also stumbled on the expression “coming out,” but it was cute.

4. Mayor Pete took on religious exemptions

Buttigieg was asked about how people often use their faith as an excuse for discriminating.

“The right to religious freedom ends where religion is being used as an excuse to harm other people,” he said.

He also answered the question from a theological perspective: “It makes God smaller,” he said, to use religion as an excuse to discriminate.

5. Chris Cuomo made an offensive joke about pronouns

When Senator Kamala Harris walked on stage, she waved to the cheering crowd.

Before CNN host Chris Cuomo could ask a question, Harris said, “My pronouns are she, her, and hers.”

Cuomo could have just moved on to the first question, but he decided to make a funny. “Mine, too,” he responded.

Yeah… no. Just no.

Cuomo apologized shortly after leaving the stage after Twitter erupted in outrage.

6. Activist Blossom C. Brown drew attention to the erasure of black trans women

CNN host Don Lemon was taking a question from the mother of a transgender child during former Representative Beto O’Rourke’s (D-TX) time when a woman in the audience took the mic from her.

“Let me tell you something, black trans women are being killed in this country,” the woman, who later said her name was Blossom C. Brown, said. “And CNN, you have erased black trans women for the last time. Let me tell you something. Black trans women are dying. Our lives matter.”

She said, “Not one black trans woman has taken the mic tonight, not one black trans man has taken the mic tonight.”

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