Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, known for his anti-LGBTQ+ stance, has been the latest subject of a satirical Instagram account, Rupublicans, that transforms Republican politicians into drag queens using AI-generated images. The account has previously depicted figures such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in full drag attire.
On Thursday, the anonymous creator behind Rupublicans introduced their newest drag persona, Miss Montina Abortina, inspired by Gov. Gianforte. The post criticized his focus on uterus legislation and expressed concerns about a potential ban on drag story hour events.
Gianforte has a history of supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, such as signing bills permitting religious exemptions to Montana’s anti-discrimination laws. This has raised concerns that businesses could discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals. In May 2021, he signed two additional bills, one restricting transgender youth from participating in school sports teams corresponding to their gender, and another limiting instruction on human sexuality in schools.
Despite having a nonbinary child, David Gianforte, who personally lobbied against it, the governor signed a bill last Friday outlawing gender-affirming care for young people. Montana lawmakers have also recently passed a bill banning drag queen story hour events, which Gianforte may sign into law soon.
The Rupublicans’ post featuring Gianforte not only critiques the lawmaker but also aids the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Montana’s fight against the state’s anti-LGBTQ and anti-choice laws. The post’s caption encourages donations, stating, “If everyone who follows this account gives $3, we could make a big statement.”