TL;DR
- Elon Musk posted a homophobic GIF attacking Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy
- The feud began over newly opened contracts for the Artemis III moon mission
- Musk’s GIF referenced a trans activist infamously mocked in a Ugandan interview
- Duffy himself has a long anti-LGBTQ history — so no heroes here
- LGBTQ advocates warn Musk’s escalating rhetoric is dangerous for queer people
Musk Goes Low Orbit
The world’s richest Twitter troll is back at it — and this time, space wasn’t the only thing he tried to launch into the gutter.
A simple bureaucratic dispute over NASA moon mission contracts exploded when SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk pulled out one of the oldest, laziest weapons in the homophobia handbook. Rather than challenge Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy with facts or, you know, technology, Musk fired off a GIF reading “Why are you gae?” — a line from a notoriously homophobic interview used for years to demean queer and trans people.
Duffy had just announced that NASA would open up production of lunar landing systems — previously promised exclusively to SpaceX — to competitors like Blue Origin. The move was framed as a high-stakes race with China: “We need the best companies to operate at a speed that gets us to the Moon FIRST,” Duffy insisted while bragging about American innovation.
Musk, who’s been increasingly aligned with anti-LGBTQ voices, dove straight into bigotry rather than the scientific argument. First, he mocked Jeff Bezos. Then, he fired the slur.
Because apparently nothing says “professional aerospace mogul” like resurrecting a meme designed to ridicule a trans activist on Ugandan television.
Two Big Egos, Zero Accountability
Let’s get something straight (pun very intended): Sean Duffy is no LGBTQ champion either.
Before collecting government paychecks under presidents and cable networks, Duffy made his name opposing marriage equality, supporting bans on transgender service members, and — classy move — attacking rainbow crosswalks. Even his stint on The Real World somehow involved a fight with his lesbian roommate.
So no, Musk didn’t accidentally confuse him with queer former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. This was targeted, petty, and rooted in the billionaire’s growing comfort with hate.
Their relationship has reportedly soured for months. Earlier this year, sources say Duffy accused Musk’s pet “Department of Government Efficiency” of trying to eliminate air traffic control jobs during a wave of plane crashes. Musk responded by screaming “lie!” and throwing digital punches. Cute bromance, boys.
What This Means for the LGBTQ Community
The danger here isn’t that two powerful men are fighting — that’s Washington’s most boring TV rerun. The danger is how Musk fights.
When the world’s most prominent tech executive normalizes homophobic harassment in front of an audience of millions, it sends a dangerous message: LGBTQ people are punchlines, weapons, an insult to throw when you’re angry.
Queer Americans already face escalated attacks nationwide — from book bans to anti-trans laws to violence. In that climate, seeing a billionaire wield bigotry so casually isn’t just “edgy.” It’s gasoline.
As NASA aims for the Moon, Musk seems determined to drag society back decades. And if he thinks LGBTQ people will be silent about it?
Why are you gae?
Because we were born fabulous.
And we’re not going anywhere, Elon.