Since last Sunday's attack of a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida by a so-called ISIS sympathizer, I have heard the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump say he will support the LGBT community by going hard after ISIS. This was echoed by right wing talk radio hosts Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
Really? I realize the Islam religion has a problem with homosexuality but so do many in the Christian right, a group courted vigorously by Mr. Trump in the GOP primary.
Why is it I heard zero mention of gay rights or same-sex marriage in any of the GOP primary debates? I think John Kasich said he was morally against gay marriage but he would accept it because it is the law of the land.
Otherwise, crickets. In fact, I seem to remember three GOP candidates attending a religious convention featuring a Pastor quoting from Scripture that gays should be killed. This was exposed by Rachel Maddow.
Then two of these candidates were stumbling over each other to support and get a photo-op with Kentucky clerk Kim Davis when she came out of jail after she refused to give marriage licenses to same sex couples.
We LGBT folks have come a long way in the last 7 or so years. We can now serve openly in the military and same-sex marriage is a national right. Let's see. Who was the president that presided over these changes and who had campaigned to be our fierce advocate and delivered on his promises?
Oh, that's right it was President Barack Obama. Which party made same-sex marriage part of its platform in 2012? Which party has consistently supported LGBT rights and actually has gay Congress people representing us? Which party and administration is continuing to support transgender rights when it comes to using bathrooms? That's right: the Democratic Party.
I guess Donald and Rush and Sean expect us to be so afraid of ISIS that we will forget how the GOP has fought us in the past on health care for gay partners; gay adoption; ENDA which would have ended discrimination against gays throughout the country; being for anti-gay laws in North Carolina, Indiana, and other states under the guise of "religious freedom"; same-sex marriage; and laws prohibiting transgendered folks from using the bathroom of their current gender.
Seems to me, Rush, you were opposed to same sex-marriage and called it "the disintegration of the United States." Have you changed your mind on that? I doubt it.
And, Sean, it seems that only two short years ago you said that parents should be able to teach their children that "being gay is not normal". And I believe you were also opposed to same sex marriage. Why this turn of heart?
Sorry to tell you guys, but we ain't buying your sudden transformation and support for us. It smells of political expediency. Try peddling your fraud to other voting groups.