Bruce Jenner has an unexpected supporter

Bruce Jenner has a surprising new supporter.

More:Bruce Jenner’s car crash has caused some serious repercussions

Rick Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, publicly voiced his support for Jenner’s gender transition at a Republican convention in South Carolina Saturday.

According to Time, Santorum told reporters gathered at the event, “if [Jenner] says he’s a woman, then he’s a woman. My responsibility as a human being is to love and accept everybody, not to criticize people for who they are.”

More: Alice Eve has some serious repair work to do after Bruce Jenner comments

Santorum, who lost the Republican presidential nomination to Mitt Romney in 2012 and is predicted to make a bid for the presidency in 2016, has come under fire for antigay remarks in the past. Only two weeks before voicing support for Jenner, Santorum made headlines for saying he would refuse to attend the wedding of a gay friend or family member because it would be “a violation of [his] faith.”

Still, his remarks on Saturday were extremely supportive of Jenner, if not the choices of LGBT individuals.

“I can criticize, and I do, for what people do, for their behavior,” Santorum added to his earlier remarks in support of the former Olympic athlete and reality TV star’s public admission that he’s transgender. “But as far as for who they are, you have to respect everybody, and these are obviously complex issues for businesses, for society. And I think we have to look at it in a way that is compassionate and respectful of everybody.”

More:Diane von Furstenberg accused of posting a pic of Bruce Jenner in a dress (PHOTO)

What do you think of Rick Santorum’s remarks about Bruce Jenner? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Do you think he’s just trying to gain public support from the LGBT community after speaking against them in the past? Or do you think he’s had a change of heart since voicing antigay sentiments? Head down to the comments and share your thoughts.