Varadkar must use US trip to speak on LGBT rights

When Leo Varadkar sits down with Donald Trump in the White House today he either can smile and nod or he can take the opportunity to raise important but difficult issues such as LGBT rights.

While the Taoiseach has enjoyed a successful State-side trip so far — bumping into Arnold Schwarzenegger, visiting the site of JFK’s assassination, and thanking the Choctaw Native Americans for their donations during the Great Famine — he has failed to tackle the thorny issue of marriage equality and other gay rights.

In fact, he remained mute on the issue when meeting staunchly conservative governors during his tour of Texas and Oklahoma.