Missouri’s political landscape is again marred by controversy as Republican candidate Valentina Gomez, running for the position of Secretary of State, posted antigay slurs and inflammatory remarks on Instagram. Despite the posts blatantly violating Meta’s terms of service, they have remained online, inciting outrage and concern among LGBTQ+ advocates and community members.
In a series of videos, Gomez used homophobic and transphobic slurs, attacking LGBTQ+ individuals and athletes. Her posts, which were reported multiple times, stayed up for more than 24 hours. Gomez’s rhetoric intensified following online abuse targeted at Algerian boxer Imane Khelif during the Paris Olympics. Although Khelif is not transgender, right-wing influencers falsely accused her of being male, further fueling the discriminatory discourse.
Gomez’s inflammatory remarks did not stop there. She boasted about the attention her posts garnered, using her platform to continue spreading hate and misinformation. She claimed to be targeted for her views but stood firm, urging her followers to vote for her and “save America” from what she described as a corrupt government infiltrated by LGBTQ+ individuals.
Despite numerous reports to Meta, the social media giant has not removed her posts. GLAAD has criticized Meta’s inaction, highlighting the company’s failure to protect LGBTQ+ users from extreme hate speech. This situation has reignited the debate over social media platforms’ responsibilities to regulate content and enforce community standards. Critics argue that allowing such content to remain online perpetuates a culture of hate and endangers vulnerable communities.
Gomez’s campaign is characterized by aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric. Her previous actions include burning LGBTQ-themed books and attacking public figures, like WNBA star Brittney Griner. Her campaign strategy seems to hinge on inciting outrage and mobilizing a base that resonates with her extreme views.
As Missouri’s primary elections approach, the scrutiny on Gomez’s campaign has intensified. Her tactics and rhetoric continue to draw attention, highlighting the ongoing struggle for social media platforms to balance free speech with the need to protect vulnerable communities from hate speech.
