“We’ve got a queer running for president, if that ain’t about as ugly as you can get,” Sevier County Commissioner Warren Hurst said at the meeting.

Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., is openly gay and running for the Democratic nomination.

“I’m not prejudiced, but by golly,” Hurst continued while gesticulating, "a white male in this country has very few rights, and they’re getting took more every day.”

The comments were met with applause and a lone person leaving the meeting in protest.

The meeting concerned whether Sevier County, home to popular tourist destination Dollywood, should become a gun sanctuary.

“The statements made by Commissioner Hurst at the Sevier County Commission meeting of Oct. 21, 2019, do not reflect the opinion or position of Sevier County administration,” the county said in a statement. “Sevier County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or status in any other group protected by law.”

“We read the comments made in Monday night’s County Commission meeting and they do not reflect the Dollywood experience in any way," the theme park said in a statement. "Dollywood is open and welcoming to everyone, every day.”

The Tennessee Equality Project, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group, called for Hurst’s resignation.

"Tennessee Equality Project condemns the commissioner’s racist and homophobic rant,” Chris Sanders, the group’s executive director, told NBC News. “The County Commission should censure Commissioner Hurst and he should consider resigning unless he is willing to sponsor some ordinances to make county government more inclusive.”

Sanders said the organization is encouraging the public to rally at the next county commission meeting which is scheduled for Nov. 18.

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