Gay Republicans have strongly criticized a campaign video posted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, labeling it as “homophobic.” The video, shared on Twitter late Friday, aimed to contrast former President Donald Trump’s past statements in support of gay rights with DeSantis’ conservative stance on transgender and other LGBTQ+ rights. The clip, featuring images of muscular men and visually symbolic elements, prompted backlash from the LGBTQ+ community for what they perceived as an attack on transgender rights.
Richard Grenell, the first openly gay White House Cabinet official during the Trump administration, took to Twitter to condemn the video, stating, “This is undeniably homophobic.” The video’s origin remains unclear, but it garnered attention for its portrayal of DeSantis and his alleged efforts to limit transgender rights. As governor, DeSantis has supported state laws aimed at restricting medical treatment for transgender children and prohibiting minors from attending drag shows in Florida.
The DeSantis campaign has not responded to requests for comment regarding the video. Meanwhile, Trump, who holds a substantial lead over DeSantis in public opinion polls, did not address the attack during a recent rally in South Carolina. Instead, he focused on criticizing sporting events that permit transgender women to participate in women’s competitions, pledging to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
Trump’s commitment to gay rights was questioned during his presidency, particularly when he banned transgender individuals from serving in the military and proposed rolling back protections for transgender people facing healthcare discrimination. When asked to comment on the video, Trump’s campaign referred to a tweet by Trump adviser Jason Miller, hinting that someone would be fired over the DeSantis campaign’s post.
The Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative group advocating for gay rights, called for Republicans to stand up against “radical Left gays” but criticized DeSantis for going too far. In a tweet, the group stated, “DeSantis and his team can’t tell the difference between commonsense gays and the radical Left gays,” asserting that the presidential hopeful had crossed into homophobic territory.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican party regarding LGBTQ+ rights and the challenges faced by gay Republicans in reconciling their party’s positions with their own advocacy for gay rights and inclusion.