Texas Governor Greg Abbott was waiting to get on a plane to Austin from New York, when a passenger scheduled for the same flight told the governor to go to hell because of his beliefs on gay marriage.
At the time he was accosted by the 32-year-old passenger, the Texas governor was with his wife Cecilia and their daughter, 18-year-old Audrey. The governor was traveling back to the Texas capitol after spending two days in New York promoting business opportunities in the Lone Star State.
Matt Hirsch, the governor’s communications director told the Austin American-Statesman that the passenger walked up to the governor and said, “I hope you [expletive] go to hell because of your stance on gay marriage.”
The man also told the governor, “I’m going to see you on the plane.”
The man never made it because airport security told him he would not be taking the flight. The airlines got him a hotel room, where he stayed the night, Hirsch told the Statesman.
Governor Abbott has been very outspoken about his opinions on traditional marriage. On the day of the U.S. Supreme Court decision finding gay marriage rights, the Governor responded that “No Texan is required by the Supreme Court’s decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage.”
He released a statement saying that the “Five Justices on the Supreme Court have imposed on the entire country their personal views on an issue that the Constitution and the Court’s previous decisions reserve to the people of the States.”
Governor Abbott was in New York City on Monday and Tuesday to discuss Texas’ open and flourishing business climate with business leaders and industry experts in the Big Apple. His mission – to promote Texas as the premier state in which to live and do business.
He was touting Texas’ latest successes, including cutting over $4 billion in taxes for businesses and homeowners. Abbott was also plugging the way that Texas has reduced burdensome regulations and prioritized spending for transportation infrastructure and education, and doing so without growing the size of government or raising taxes.
The Governor and his wife and daughter took a tour of the New York Stock Exchange while in the city. He made other media appearances with TexasOne, the state’s Economic Development Corporation.
The 2-day mission was designed to bring significant economic impact to Texas. On the agenda were conversations with more than 30 global business leaders representing 22 corporations. The estimated reward – 11,500 more jobs in Texas. The Governor also connected with 15 corporate real estate advisors.
The Governor’s visit comes after Chief Executive Magazine recognized Texas as the “best state for business” for the eleventh year in a row. CNBC has recognized Texas as the second best state for doing business.
This article has been updated with additional information.
Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2