Marlon Bundo is the name of the current Vice President's, Mike Pence, pet bunny.
This simple rabbit is unaware that he is in the middle of a huge same-sex marriage debate. Mike Pence has been known for his support in conversion therapy, which is an unscientific belief that through therapy, people can convert homosexuals into heterosexuals.
Focus on the Family is a Christian group that does these conversion therapies, and is supported by Mike Pence. During Mike pence's book tour for his brand new children's book, a stop of his was at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. While Mike Pence's children book is not about his support on conversion therapy and his homophobic views, by stopping at Focus on the Family, he is still using his book to support the dishonorable cause.
Marlon Bundo with “Marlon Bundo's: A Day in the Life of the Vice President"
The children's book itself “Marlon Bundo's: A Day in the Life of the Vice President" was written by Mike Pence's daughter, Charlotte Pence who is a filmmaker and illustrated by Mike Pence's wife, Karen Pence who is an award winning painter. The book is about Marlon Bundo following his “grampa" (Mike Pence) around the White House and ending the day with a prayer. The book was released on March 19th and made it on Amazon's top 10 selling list for literature. The proceeds were donated to Tracey's Kids (an art therapy program) and A21 (a nonprofit organization that works to end human trafficking).
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo"
John Oliver is a TV host for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" and released his own Marlon Bundo story on March 18th during his show. In “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo" Marlon Bundo is a gay rabbit who falls in love with another boy rabbit named Wesley. Marlon Bundo takes Wesley throughout the White House and then asks Wesley to marry him. Wesley agrees but sadly, because of the laws, they can not because the stink bug who is in office is against same-sex marriage. Marlon Bundo and his friends decide to vote the stink bug out of office and change the same-sex marriage law. Marlon Bundo and Wesley are able to get married.
John Oliver's book was written by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver's Jill Twiss and with credit to Marlon Bundo. It was also illustrated by E.G. Keller. Famous LGBT celebrities like Jim Parsons and RuPaul lend their voices to the audiobook recording. All of the proceeds from the book go towards the Trevor Project and AIDS United. If you donate $11.99 to either charity, you receive a free copy of the book. The websites betterbundobook and focusonthefurmily both link to a page where you can order the “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo" book. On Amazon, his book went to number 1 for the printed version, and number 2 for the ebook version. On Ellen, John Oliver shared that he did not except the book to sell out and that it will be reprinted and sold soon. Ellen also donated $10,000 to the Trevor Project during the interview.
On Marlon Bundo's Instagram page, Charlotte Pence posted a photo with Marlon Bundo in the same bow tie from John Oliver's book. The caption read “Not gonna lie, I do look pretty fly in a bow tie. The only thing better than one bunny book for charity is...TWO bunny books for charity. #BOTUS - Marlon." Charlotte publicly support's John Oliver's charities and book. Focus on the Family made a statement criticizing what John Oliver did and invited him to attend the book tour spot at the Focus on the Family location. Regnery Publishing, the company that published Mike Pence's book, said "unfortunate that anyone would feel the need to ridicule an educational children's book and turn it into something controversial and partisan."
Personally, any opportunity to help charities and to have children reading is a win for me. Hopefully in the future, Mike Pence and discontinue his support for Focus on the Family and work with support LGBT charities.
