During last year’s presidential campaign, Peter Thiel, the newly minted Kiwi and would-be savior of the woolly mammoth, served as Donald Trump‘s shield against homophobia.
The openly gay billionaire had a prime-time spot at the GOP convention, which he used to praise Trump. After Trump was elected, Thiel said he wasn’t concerned about any antigay policies coming from the Trump administration. “People know too many gay people,” he said.
He even dismissed Mike Pence, whose homophobia is second to none, with a blithe “You know, maybe I should be worried, but I’m not that worried.”
If anything, Thiel said that “Maybe Trump is going to change everything way too little.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
What a difference six months makes.
Trump and his administration has undertaken the most viciously anti-LGBTQ stance of any administration since Reagan. Consider in just a few short days:
- Trump declared (via tweet, of course) that transgender military personnel shouldn’t be allowed to serve.
- He appointed one of the most radical homophobes in politics, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, as ambassador at large for religious freedom.
- His Justice Department decided to argue that gay people are not covered under civil rights laws.
But wait! There’s more!
An ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign’s canoodling with the murderous Vladimir Putin, a West Wing in complete disarray with a staffer accusing another of sucking his own cock, Cabinet members under constant threat of dismissal, an attempt to throw tens of millions of people off health insurance apparently in order to mock former president Obama, and a legislative record that’s a giant goose egg. Oh, and did we mention all the lies, lies and more lies?
The one accomplishment that Trump can take credit for is establishing a presidency that’s on the brink of meltdown in a record six months. After all, Richard Nixon had to get into his second term to accomplish the same effect.
And where is Peter Thiel in all this? He did show up at a meeting between Trump and tech leaders in June. Otherwise, when it comes to Trump’s deeds, crickets.
Of course, Thiel must be disappointed for his own reasons. He had hoped that one of his associates would end up running the FDA (preferably into the ground) but instead the job went to someone who worked at the agency in the George W. Bush administration.
But Thiel has never been a staunch supporter of LGBTQ causes in any case. And his warped philosophy–that freedom and democracy are not “compatible”–may mean he’s perfectly fine with the dismemberment of the body politic Trump has undertaken. And if we’re collateral damage, well, maybe that’s the price to pay for the kind of world that Thiel wants.
Peter, it’s time not just to worry but to stand up. We’d love to hear publicly from you about these attacks on our equality–and yours.
Brody
I recall when Reagan was elected and Democrats swore that he only got into office so he could start WW III. Every other day they would try convincing the country that Reagan was going to launch a nuclear attack on the USSR without congressional approval, and every other day that claim was proven once again to be nothing more than liberal fantasy.
The same irrational behavior is being exhibited today: Gays say he’s going to imprison us, women claim he’s going to rape them, non-whites insist he wants to kill or deport them. The extremes taken to vilify Trump are far more disturbing than anything he’s done.
Franklin
Can you at least admit that the Trump administration is not as much of a friend to the LGBT community as they once claimed to be? Can you do that? If you refuse to even concede that basic fact then there is really no point in talking to you, because you’re most likely dellusional like most other Trump loyalists.
am_psi
Exactly right. Trump Derangement Syndrome is widespread.
Brody
Franklin –
How is he “not a friend”? Because of his military trans ban? Sorry, but I don’t consider transsexuals to be part of the gay community, so their militaristic plight is of no consequence, in my opinion. I’m more interested in how he’s driving the country to be strong again after 8 years of Obama’s ineffectiveness.
– Brody
Alexis
Brody-
It’s fair to say that Trump is perhaps the most ineffective one here. He can’t even keep the same staff for more than 3 months. He lies, insults and blackmails members of Congress…try argue how effective that is this? That says a lot about Trump’s lack of leadership and morality. It’s clear that he’s trying to run the white house and his administration like a reality tv show. He doesn’t care about the country; he only cares about the attention he receives.
Trump sees his mortality, and doesn’t care of whether or not his legacy is good for Americans. Once he’s not longer part of this world (I give him 5 years-given his lifestyle and stress-level), that’s it, and I’m pretty sure he realizes it. It’s unfortunate that his kids will be the ones to take the brunt, once he’s gone. I can already see his memoirs/book, in which he explains how he entered politics to make a mockery out of it, and fooled people to support him…because ultimately some Republicans/conservatives are very gullible. Anyway, I am not sure in what world you’re living Brody, but if you claim that now is better than when Obama was president, you are extremely delusional and in denial. Obama never had as much negative press as Trump has had within the first 7 months of his presidency.
PinkoOfTheGange
@Brody. Trans were most likely part of the community before you were, so what you include is not relevant to the rest of us.
Franklin
I watched for 8 years as the right made it seem like Obama was the anti-christ. They called him a Kenyan, socialist, secret Muslim, racist, who heated America and made us the laughing stock of the world. This was in spite of the fact that with any issue, Obama took great care to always strike a balanced tone on any given issue, and he seems more Christian in his values then a lot of the evangelicals that see no problem in turning out poor people and supporting a serial adulterer. Now a president comes along that governs by tweet, gives little thought to what he says, has managed to piss off all of our allies, and has actually, truly made us the laughing stock of the world, and you have the nerve to fix your mouth to claim that we’re the ones crying wolf? My only hope is that Trump’s presidency will motivate many Americans to take a long hard sobering look at ourselves to determine how it is that a man like was allowed to ascend to the highest office of the land.
Alexis
@Franklin–
Completely agree. Unfortunately, Americans aren’t very bright, and most of them don’t ever learn. A majority of them are still in denial of their choice, and will end blaming others for any misfortunes. They don’t take responsibility for their actions, which is a shame. Here at least in the UK, the people do have some common sense, and have started to wake up to see that Brexit is not the optimal choice, and that the movement was mainly driven by fear and ignorance…Unfortunately, some americans are too dumb to come around, and would rather let the US fail plainly due to a false ideology.
DCguy
The goal of Mo Bro’s new Screename here.
Since he can’t defend Theil or Trump, he MUST CHANGE THE SUBJECT!
jjose712
And Reagan administration was incredibly bad for gay people, so i don’t understand what’s exactly yout point.
And it’s not something internal, Trump will be mocked all over the place if he wasn’t so dangerous. He is a complete inept, but the worst part is that he decided to be surrounded to people whose only job is to kiss his ass
Kieran
Yep. Trump Derangement Syndrome is widespread, especially on this website. The “community” treats the new President as an enemy and then are surprised that maybe he’s noticed.
jjose712
Well, he is mocked everywhere (and if he is not ridiculed most is because he is dangerous as the leader of the most powerful country). So it’s not something about the “community”.
Frankly, hiding the head in the sand is not going to help either. He is an awful president and an awful human being, but of course people who voted for him knew that
KaiserVonScheiss
Well, this seems like a fair critique…NOT!
As for the civil rights thing, it doesn’t cover sexual orientation, period. The law only says sex and includes the following:
“(k) The terms “because of sex” or “on the basis of sex” include, but are not limited to, because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the same for all employment-related purposes, including receipt of benefits under fringe benefit programs, as other persons not so affected but similar in their ability or inability to work, and nothing in section 2000e-2(h) of this title [section 703(h)] shall be interpreted to permit otherwise. This subsection shall not require an employer to pay for health insurance benefits for abortion, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or except where medical complications have arisen from an abortion: Provided, That nothing herein shall preclude an employer from providing abortion
benefits or otherwise affect bargaining agreements in regard to abortion.”
The EEOC abused its authority when it included sexual orientation, something congress did not give them the authority to do, last time I checked. I agree that the law should change, but it must be done by congress, not by the executive branch.
PinkoOfTheGange
The words between the first and second commas, do allow the department room to redefine the terms. Congress can change them if they don’t like it.
KaiserVonScheiss
Wrong. Nothing changes the common definition of the word sex. In fact, (k) does not define sex, only “because of sex” or “on the basis of sex,” but sex itself is not defined to be anything other than biological sex.
Paco
It seems Mr. Thiel’s “Fake Culture Wars” are alive and well on the right. I guess the evilangelicals in his camp tuned out during his speech.
Franklin
Peter is like most gay Libertarians and Republicans. They feel as if their money can insulate them from the issues that come along with being gay. That’s why they are able to so easily compartmentalize their sexually and cozy up with people who’s views towards the LGBT community are problematic. Caitlyn Jenner is the same. It was interesting watching her reaction when Donald Trump dropped his tweet banning transgender people from the miltiary.
GC
I thought Peter was going to run for the Senate from California. It would be fun to have Peter verses Caitlyn in the Republican primary. Bring on the popcorn!
tskissable337
Cody its funny how you say that trans aren’t part of the LGBT community but last time I checked gay and trans people both sucked dick and I think if you ask a straight person we would both be considered still as gay!
So if it sucks dick, sits on a dick, wears lipstick or even a jockstrap, and hides behind a masculine or feminine side it’s still GAY to a straight person.
And yes the stereotype about Trump as the antichrist is a little far fetch but he is still the president so let him screw up or accomplish where he is set out to do, in hopes that our next president will do better for the LGBT community as whole! Which includes you as being gay!
Brody
Interesting point, but allow me to point out that your statement “if it sucks dick, sits on a dick, or wears lipstick” also incorporates straight women . . . . which is how transsexual men see themselves, NOT as gay men. There a big difference. Yuuuuge, even, to quote the prez.
inbama
Lord, who lifted the rock and let all these self-loathing Repubican queens crawl out?
Rex Huskey
It’s because he’s making money hand over fist with Tramp in power!
DCguy
The Trump trolls are always hilarious when an article comes up pointing out the anti-lgbt bigotry of the GOP.
They will say or do ANYTHING to deflect onto another topic.
The GOP has a platform about stripping away lgbt rights, Pence tanked Indianas economy just to attack lgbts and Trump swore to appoint judges to attack lgbt rights.
End of story, and even if Mo Bro creates 100 new screenames that doesn’t change anything.
Rex Huskey
to DCGurl: Did MoBro give you a STD?
Brody
Rex –
Score!
– Brody