Instagram has taken decisive action by banning the account of Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate from Missouri, notorious for her anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. This decision follows a prolonged period of online hostility directed at the queer community, including demeaning posts and videos that violated Meta’s hate speech policies. Gomez’s account, which had a considerable following of around 90,000, was finally disabled on September 20 after several reports from advocacy organizations like GLAAD.
The content that led to the ban included inflammatory remarks about LGBTQ+ figures, with Gomez calling basketball player Brittney Griner an “unpatriotic lesbian” and encouraging violence against the community. In her videos, Gomez regularly targeted the LGBTQ+ population, often in vitriolic and derogatory ways. A particularly controversial video showed her jogging through a historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood while telling viewers not to be “weak and gay.” This video alone highlighted the intensity of her disdain for the queer community, amplifying calls for Instagram to take stronger action.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, confirmed that Gomez’s account had been disabled after repeated violations of its community standards. Although some have criticized the platform for not acting sooner, LGBTQ+ organizations hope this represents a shift in the company’s handling of hate speech. Sarah Kate Ellis, the president of GLAAD, expressed relief but emphasized the need for continued vigilance. She remarked, “This decision is overdue, but it’s essential that platforms like Instagram enforce their policies more consistently when it comes to protecting LGBTQ+ users from harassment and violence.”
The escalation of Gomez’s hateful conduct illustrates a broader issue within the political sphere, where public figures use their influence to spread damaging narratives about the LGBTQ+ community. Despite her recent electoral defeat, Gomez’s rhetoric has left a lingering impact, with LGBTQ+ advocates calling for continued monitoring of social media platforms to ensure they remain safe spaces for all users.
