Gay Trump supporter Rob Smith recently attended Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was absolutely appalled by a group of non-gay Trump supporters who shouted homophobic slurs at him.
“Last night in Phoenix, I was confronted and surrounded by some White Supremacists that don’t like gays or blacks in the Republican Party,” Smith wrote on Twitter X.
“They shouted ‘n*****’ and ‘f*****’ at me to make their point. However, I served in Iraq. I never back down. Ever.”
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Last night in Phoenix, I was confronted and surrounded by some White Supremacists that don’t like gays or blacks in the Republican Party.
They shouted “nigger” and “faggot” at me to make their point.
Smith also shared video of the incident, which actually discredited part of what he claimed in his tweet. In the clip, a group of men can be heard chanting “gay sex” before shouting the homophobic epithet, but no racial slurs are heard.
“Look at that, I’ve got some fans!” Smith can be heard laughing with them at one point.
Alleged live witnesses, including a person who claims to have recorded the video, have also said no racial slurs were used.
After Smith shared the clip on social media, people seemed to have little sympathy for him.
“You got what you deserve. You chose to associate with a political party that is anti-black and anti-gay,” one person commented on his tweet.
“Hmmm I listened 3 times I didn’t hear anyone yelling the N word,” another remarked.
“You chose to be a Republican despite knowing what they stand for. And now you want sympathy?” someone else wrote.
“Nothing about this tweet makes you look good. You were tricked into Iraq, and then you were tricked into a party that hates you,” another said.
“This is the MAGA base. The ones Donald Trump invites to dinner like Nick Fuentes,” someone else noted.
“Are you still a Republican after this? If so why?” another commenter asked.
And so on, and so on.
In 2018, Smith, who frequently rails against identity politics while simultaneously never missing an opportunity to broadcast his own intersectionality, said coming out as conservative was harder than coming out as gay.
“Honestly, coming out as conservative has been more of an earth-shattering, life-altering move for me, personally, than coming out as gay was,” he said.
“I came out [as gay] to my family and friends but coming out as conservative has been a very public thing… For me, this process has been more difficult to navigate than the process of coming out as gay.”
In 2020, Smith was among 50 or so LGBTQ+ Trump supporters who marched through West Hollywood shouting “USA! USA!” and “We love Trump!” while waving Trump 2020 flags.
A group of 50 LGBT Trump supporters are marching through West Hollywood. They have marched from the Pacific Design Center to Rocco’s, right in the heart of Boy’s Town. 4 sheriff’s patrol cars are following. pic.twitter.com/tTEzLwjq48
And earlier this month, he posted a video to Instagram defending George Santos after he was ousted from Congress.
Without providing a shred of evidence to support his claims (because, honestly, how wouldhe know?), Smith alleged there are “closeted homosexuals who cheat on their wives with staffers” who deserved to be expelled before Santos.
Jacob Chansley, who recently announced he’s running for Congress, was snubbed by Gaetz at a GOP event over the weekend.
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Another example of the hate coming from the Democrats.
He’s an individual with his own set of beliefs.
And to be condemned. Mocking him, bullying him, ostracizing him. Everything they claim the republicans are about, they are. Bunch of hypocrites filled with hate. Here’s a fine example.
That’s not hate, that’s sanity. Try to find some before we all end up in concentration camps. LGBTQI Trump supporters should ALL be shunned by the tribe.
Beliefs are not sacred, nor are they necessarily worthy of respect. The party YOU clearly follow has just made a gay-hating dominionist extremist (and Trump ass licker) speaker of the house. He is third in line to the presidency, has been caught in bald faced lies many times and has SPECIFICALLY said marriage equality should be overturned, homosexuality should be recriminalized and that LGBT people present a real threat to democracy!
There is no reason for anybody with sound mind and critical skills to extend civility to the party that supports this. There is no reason for LGBT folks to have respect for gay followers of the republican party. And those LGBT folks who claim to support the ideas of the long dead intellectual theorists of the party are deluding themselves.
You do realize those are Republicans saying those things to him…right?
As for mocking him for having to deal with it, yes, it’s deserved. His support for P01135809 is akin to Jews supporting Hitler and then being shocked when his supporters turn on them.
This isn’t Democrat Hatred, this is schadenfreude.
MAGAs are the ones who showed hate toward him! Did you even read the article!? The call is coming from inside the house–the Don the Con MAGA house, that is!
Education, not insults, will fix the problem. But remember, it was a Democrat, Bill Clinton, who pushed, passed and signed both bigoted policies of DADT and DOMA. Now we have climate change legislation and President Biden ALSO approved more drilling, more carbon polution and more climate change.
Just because one side is really, really bad, doesn’t mean the other choice is exactly good. How about a Democratic primary where WE can choose a real Democrat. One not giving bombs of genocide.
Conservative LGBT people, including Andrew Sullivan, Tim Miller, Dave Rubin, Milo Yiannopoulos, Camille Paglia, Kaitlyn Jenner always seem to think these conservatives like them and have no problem with their “lifestyle”. But when the conservative gay actually thinks they are respected by the right they’re in for a rude awakening. They only like them when they’re useful and don’t go to far (hello, Yiannopoulos).
If you think that GOP gays will be exempt from Trump’s final solution, go watch “In the Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” a 1970 film about a wealthy Jewish family in Italy who thought they were exempt from Fascist charges that their existence was poisoning the blood of the country. Trump is now QUOTING Hitler in his stump speeches and taking full credit for the Führer’s sentiments.
James, mental professionals can help. Call them immediately. When angry nuts start screaming, we don’t get good things. If makes one appear unhinged, just like tRump.
“Smh… well duh” is the first comment. What scares me is how long it took you to figure this out. And the second is “do you want to live in a society of laws that apply to everybody”. Santos broke the law. He got booted. He got what he deserved. The law applies to everyone no matter their political affiliation.
Don’t reactively think the other side is immune. Bob Menendez has been caught multiple times and he is still serving in the Senate.
Binary thinking (R or D) has not helped the poor or middle class since Clinton endorsed trickle-down corporate outsourcing of jobs and wealth. You remember Bill? He pushed, passed and SIGNED both DADT and DOMA.
We MUST learn from our mistakes and choose a better candidate in the Democratic primary. Joe Biden has increased drilling for climate change MORE than tRump. And today we have enabled wars, rather than seeking peace.
A wonderful can labeled “peas” that contains only war is not acceptable. Now Joe has taken us back to building walls… WTF?
Yes, he contributed from 2013 to 2017 or so. And he published a lot of articles. He was a good writer. I don’t think he was right-wing back then, or least not overtly so.
Queerty has an editor TODAY that posted multiple false, degrading and misleading stories about a gay progressive candidate. He helped the conservative win. It’s called a “side-hustle”. Love of wealth (and his newly purchased Hummer) can drive good people to the dark side.
Rob Smith used to contribute on Queerty and was often thoughtful and not a right-winger. He was the first Black out gay vet from Iraq to write about his experiences, and I got his book when he touted it on here. I hope he wakes up and sees the MAGAs for who they are, and I also hope he’s a bit more careful with claims about people using the N-word; Lord knows, the f-word from the mouths of MAGAs is bad enough!
Let me share something with you as a conservative gay man that many of you don’t know or have never thought about.
I’m seeing a lot of comments about not voting ones interest if part of the LGBT community. Did it ever occur to you that many, if not most, conservative LGBT folks do not primarily identify as such? As Donald Trump received 28% of the LGBT voted in 2020, there are millions of our community where being gay is NOT their primary focus or identity. As a former Democrat, I understand this a little better than most. If one was voting for a particular party on only LGBT matters there would certainly be a more monolithic LGBT vote. However, that is only one of many issues that LGBT voters think are important at election time. The following is a partial list of conservative/Republican issues that LGBT voters consider as important, if not more important, than current, on-going LGBT issues:
Fiscal Responsibility
Rule of Law/Tough on Crime
U.S. Energy Independence
Peace Through Strength
Limited Government
Individual Freedom
Free Trade
Second Amendment/Right to Bear Arms
Lower Taxes
Protect the Unborn
Defend the Constitution
Free Market Capitalism
National Security
Deregulation
Individual Responsibility
Human Dignity
Securing Our Borders
Do Republicans fall short or fail at these principles? Of course, they do! Nevertheless, they are still (LGBT) conservative guiding values and principles to which we do our humanly best to strive and attain.
Do you think I am a gay conservative to be liked!?! LOL!!! You and your “progressive” ilk have treated me worse than any heterosexual conservative ever has treated me.
I danced with men all night long at both of President George W. Bush’s Presidential Inaugurations in Washington, D.C. I, nor my friends, ever received even a dirty look from my fellow Republicans.
You need to grow up and get engaged in the world. As bad as you want it, the sky is not falling.
Your objectives are what eviscerated the American manufacturing industry – resulting in INCREASED poverty and destruction of the middle class. Were you even alive when President Bill Clinton adopted Reagan’s trickle-down nonsense?
THIS is what happens when the kids here scream and insult instead of using logic and reason. Are you listening dbmcvey, James, Cam, Kangool? Using Republican tactics help Republicans. Try logic and reason.
Ronbobo, you ought to take your own advice. You come on here like a Pollyanna upbraiding people and yet call for civility. You make states about politics and history that are quickly unmasked as incorrect. Clean your own d@mn house up first, or at least sweep that front porch, before you start telling others what to do.
Oh, and do we need to walk you through yet another history of DOMA and DADT?
Fiscal Responsibility – The GQP has repeatedly exploded the deficit and debt with reckless tax cuts for billionaires, & collapsed the US economy (cf. W Bush 2007-2009, Donald the Con 2020-2021, etc.)
Rule of Law/Tough on Crime – The GQP is defending an attempted coup on January 6, 2021, that many senior Congressional members of that party decried; the party leader Don the Con not only has committed numerous crimes (including being convicted of sexual assault and defamation), but has seen numerous associates jailed for a range of crimes.
U.S. Energy Independence – Under Democrat Presidents Obama and current Biden, the US has come close to energy independence. Currently, despite the damage to our environment, the US is pumping and exporting more oil than ever before.
Peace Through Strength – This neoconservative canard has led to repeated US imperial disasters–Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, now Gaza, etc. It’s hollow and simplistic.
Limited Government – Another conservative canard, openly defied by “conservative” governments like Don the Con’s and the administrations in Florida, Texas, etc, which are banning speech, gerrymandering to retain power, etc.
Individual Freedom – Yet another conservative canard. Is the right to one’s own reproductive rights considered “individual freedom”? Is the right to speech by wearing drag? Or criticizing Israel’s genocide in Gaza? Etc.
Free Trade – Another conservative canard that has tanked US manufacturing, offshored millions of jobs, etc. over the years. There is no such thing as “free trade” or “free markets”; all involve both national and international actors, corporations, and systems of trade that are regulated by those in power.
Second Amendment/Right to Bear Arms – “A well-regulated militia being necessary….”
Lower Taxes – This should be for everyone, not just billionaires and corporations, and should not be gamed so that the poorest Americans and the working class bear the brunt of the GQP’s tax schemes.
Defend the Constitution – Cf. January 6, 2021
Free Market Capitalism – Cf. above
National Security – Cf. above
Deregulation – Another conservative canard; this essentially means allow corporations to monopolize and pollute and destroy and powerful actors to amass wealth with little oversight whatsoever. Smart regulation is the best regulation. Deregulation has wreaked havoc over the last 40 years.
Individual Responsibility – This should apply to everyone, including conservatives, including the leader of the Repub Party, Don the Con, whose individual crimes and fraud span decades, and yet he has never been sent to prison or held accountable. If this applies to the poor who have little support and resources it should apply to rich heirs like Don the Con.
Human Dignity – You’ve got MAGAs screaming out anti-gay slurs at a fellow Black conservative. Seriously?
Before the term was hijacked, this is what woke truly meant in African-American circles. He got woken up! You can believe whatever you want but in the eyes of some, you are still a “Ni&&a” even though that word was conveniently absent from the video. For some of us, that ni&&a wake-up card comes later in life. But hey keep running in those circles, bruh!
I know Rob Smith. We were part of the same volleyball team in New York City a few years ago. Based on my firsthand experience, I can attest that he is very irritating, self-centered, and consistently believes he’s always right. I consistently sensed an odd vibe from him. He texted me on few occasions wanting to “hang out”. I’m glad I didn’t bother to respond.
So…despite being a Brit (and thus neither Democrat nor Republican), and despite voting for the Green Party in the last general election (which is about as far left as you can get), I fully expect to be called a “Right wing troll” for my comment today. Potentially even accused of being another user using a different username (as tends to be the attacking style on here).
It is disappointing to read through some of the comments on this post.
For example:
Do I agree that Mr Smith was naive to think that the Republicans would embrace a homosexual man of colour? Yes. The vitriol we see some (we can’t claim all) Republicans post/say would strongly indicate he would not be embraced and therefore to complain about said lack of embrace is silly.
Do I agree that Mr Smith should be insulted so much by the LGTBQ+ community due to him being a Republican? No. We may think him naive, we may think he supports a candidate and party contrary to LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms, but he is still a human being, a gay human being, and to throw so much ill-will at him solely for having contrary beliefs to our own makes us no better than those who persecute the LGBTQ+ community for having contrary beliefs to them.
I also thought Baron Wiseman’s post was accurate: some people identify as being more than just LGBTQ+ and therefore their voting intentions can reflect what is most important to them at that time.
An example is how at one stage in life, retaining the money I worked hard for was more important to me than other matters, and so I voted for the (UK) Conservative Party who are famously anti-increased taxation for high earners.
In 2019, ensuring climate change is managed appropriately, kept under control, and ensuring there is a planet for future generations to live on, was most important to me, and so I voted for the (UK) Green Party who are the most-green party in the UK.
These days, whilst I still care about keeping the money I earn, and keeping climate change under control, I am more concerned with how the trans community is being treated here in the UK and so at the next general election I’ll likely vote for the party which is saying they will do the most for the trans community (e.g. ban conversion therapy inclusive of trans or look to amend the Equality Act so that Scotland’s plans to make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender can be enforced). That might be the Greens again, it might be Labour, it might be the Liberal Democrats (it’s unlikely to be the Conservatives).
The point is that sometimes people vote for what matters to them most; and that may not always be LGBTQ+ rights. Whilst Kangol2 has effectively ruled out the Republicans ever being the party of choice for the topics Baron Wiseman raised (on which I cannot comment as I’m not au fait with them), it might be that LGBTQ+ folk disagree with Kangol2’s views and therefore do support the Republicans because they feel they’re the ones best suited to successfully do that which the voter wants to happen.
My final point is that I understand politics is a very divisive topic, especially in America (we’re fortunate enough here that even the majority of those on the right aren’t pushing for anti-abortion laws), and of course we can disagree and debate, but we shouldn’t be wishing death or ill-will on someone simply because of their political affiliation (Dem or Rep), because to do so makes us no better than when they (Dem or Rep) wish death or ill-will on the LGTBQ+ community.
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ZzBomb
“You chose to be a Republican despite knowing what they stand for. And now you want sympathy?”
^This
barryaksarben
exactly voting against his own interests is the dumbest thing a person can do
Mack
Nailed it
Ronbo
Some covet wealth soooo much, that they join the Republican party just in the hopes of getting rich. Logic and reason are not bestowed upon everyone.
BkMc3
Is he looking for “clicks/likes” ? sympathy? faux outrage? yawn…
Hi
Another example of the hate coming from the Democrats.
He’s an individual with his own set of beliefs.
And to be condemned. Mocking him, bullying him, ostracizing him. Everything they claim the republicans are about, they are. Bunch of hypocrites filled with hate. Here’s a fine example.
PoetDaddy
That’s not hate, that’s sanity. Try to find some before we all end up in concentration camps. LGBTQI Trump supporters should ALL be shunned by the tribe.
ZzBomb
The hate coming from Democrats?????
LOL watch the video cleetus
dbmcvey
Another example of a stupid, clueless post from Hi.
James
GET LOST NAZI TRASH LOSER.
COTTONTOP
That’s hysterical
Den
“He’s an individual with his own set of beliefs.”
Beliefs are not sacred, nor are they necessarily worthy of respect. The party YOU clearly follow has just made a gay-hating dominionist extremist (and Trump ass licker) speaker of the house. He is third in line to the presidency, has been caught in bald faced lies many times and has SPECIFICALLY said marriage equality should be overturned, homosexuality should be recriminalized and that LGBT people present a real threat to democracy!
There is no reason for anybody with sound mind and critical skills to extend civility to the party that supports this. There is no reason for LGBT folks to have respect for gay followers of the republican party. And those LGBT folks who claim to support the ideas of the long dead intellectual theorists of the party are deluding themselves.
SUPREME
Hi, bye!!!!!
Jon in Canada
You do realize those are Republicans saying those things to him…right?
As for mocking him for having to deal with it, yes, it’s deserved. His support for P01135809 is akin to Jews supporting Hitler and then being shocked when his supporters turn on them.
This isn’t Democrat Hatred, this is schadenfreude.
Kangol2
MAGAs are the ones who showed hate toward him! Did you even read the article!? The call is coming from inside the house–the Don the Con MAGA house, that is!
Ronbo
Education, not insults, will fix the problem. But remember, it was a Democrat, Bill Clinton, who pushed, passed and signed both bigoted policies of DADT and DOMA. Now we have climate change legislation and President Biden ALSO approved more drilling, more carbon polution and more climate change.
Just because one side is really, really bad, doesn’t mean the other choice is exactly good. How about a Democratic primary where WE can choose a real Democrat. One not giving bombs of genocide.
dbmcvey
Yes Ronbo, which is why I’m not voting for Bill Clinton.
still_onthemark
Hey ShaverC, FreddieW, Baron Wisenheimer… DEFEND THIS!
barryaksarben
hi is trying his best which is none too good. but he isn’t very bright and we are kind to those people that trumps demands are never in his sight.
dbmcvey
hi’s technique seems to be, ignore what actually happened and make something up.
dbmcvey
Conservative LGBT people, including Andrew Sullivan, Tim Miller, Dave Rubin, Milo Yiannopoulos, Camille Paglia, Kaitlyn Jenner always seem to think these conservatives like them and have no problem with their “lifestyle”. But when the conservative gay actually thinks they are respected by the right they’re in for a rude awakening. They only like them when they’re useful and don’t go to far (hello, Yiannopoulos).
PoetDaddy
If you think that GOP gays will be exempt from Trump’s final solution, go watch “In the Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” a 1970 film about a wealthy Jewish family in Italy who thought they were exempt from Fascist charges that their existence was poisoning the blood of the country. Trump is now QUOTING Hitler in his stump speeches and taking full credit for the Führer’s sentiments.
Ilive10s
Thinking he got what he was craving. Attention and articles that focus on him.
COTTONTOP
Exactly
bachy
Bingo!
GayEGO
It is no good for Rob Smith to be a GOP, most of them hate us!
barryaksarben
I dont care how conservative you act like Peter their they still hate you and mock you behind your back so when will these self haters wake up
Mars414
Another clueless member of the Roy Cohn Society.
bachy
Hahaha! Nailed it.
James
WHAT A LOSER.
I COULD NOT EVEN READ THE ARTICLE HE IS SO DISGUSTING. MAY HE NEVER BE HAPPY IN LIFE. REALLY HE IS JUST A NAZI NUT JOB. I HATE HIM AND TRUMP.
Ronbo
James, mental professionals can help. Call them immediately. When angry nuts start screaming, we don’t get good things. If makes one appear unhinged, just like tRump.
dbmcvey
You’re right James. Tell the truth even if there’s a weirdo trying to silence you.
ChrisGMN
You have to be incredibly self-loathing to be a republican if you are gay. What did this man expect? He’s like a jew joining the Nazi party.
Ronbo
Or… wealthy. Love of money might be the problem. Like fertilizer, wealth needs to be spread around, not hoarded.
Chaz
“Smh… well duh” is the first comment. What scares me is how long it took you to figure this out. And the second is “do you want to live in a society of laws that apply to everybody”. Santos broke the law. He got booted. He got what he deserved. The law applies to everyone no matter their political affiliation.
Ronbo
Don’t reactively think the other side is immune. Bob Menendez has been caught multiple times and he is still serving in the Senate.
Binary thinking (R or D) has not helped the poor or middle class since Clinton endorsed trickle-down corporate outsourcing of jobs and wealth. You remember Bill? He pushed, passed and SIGNED both DADT and DOMA.
We MUST learn from our mistakes and choose a better candidate in the Democratic primary. Joe Biden has increased drilling for climate change MORE than tRump. And today we have enabled wars, rather than seeking peace.
A wonderful can labeled “peas” that contains only war is not acceptable. Now Joe has taken us back to building walls… WTF?
SUPREME
gay trump supporters need to know that he is NOT your friend.
Mack
You can’t fix stupid and it obviously strong in that one.
still_onthemark
Is this the same Rob Smith who used to be a “Queerty contributor” several years ago?
Queerty reported on his wedding: Search for “Gay military vet and Russian husband’s Fire Island wedding photos will melt your heart”
bachy
omigod that was back in 2017!
Kangol2
Yes, he contributed from 2013 to 2017 or so. And he published a lot of articles. He was a good writer. I don’t think he was right-wing back then, or least not overtly so.
Ronbo
Queerty has an editor TODAY that posted multiple false, degrading and misleading stories about a gay progressive candidate. He helped the conservative win. It’s called a “side-hustle”. Love of wealth (and his newly purchased Hummer) can drive good people to the dark side.
Herman75
A Russian husband? That fits.
Jon in Canada
I Don’t Care, Do You?
whereshouldistart
Nope.
He reminds me of the “religion” with the snake handlers who are eventually bitten and die.
Duh.
NEXT!!!
Kangol2
Rob Smith used to contribute on Queerty and was often thoughtful and not a right-winger. He was the first Black out gay vet from Iraq to write about his experiences, and I got his book when he touted it on here. I hope he wakes up and sees the MAGAs for who they are, and I also hope he’s a bit more careful with claims about people using the N-word; Lord knows, the f-word from the mouths of MAGAs is bad enough!
Baron Wiseman
Let me share something with you as a conservative gay man that many of you don’t know or have never thought about.
I’m seeing a lot of comments about not voting ones interest if part of the LGBT community. Did it ever occur to you that many, if not most, conservative LGBT folks do not primarily identify as such? As Donald Trump received 28% of the LGBT voted in 2020, there are millions of our community where being gay is NOT their primary focus or identity. As a former Democrat, I understand this a little better than most. If one was voting for a particular party on only LGBT matters there would certainly be a more monolithic LGBT vote. However, that is only one of many issues that LGBT voters think are important at election time. The following is a partial list of conservative/Republican issues that LGBT voters consider as important, if not more important, than current, on-going LGBT issues:
Fiscal Responsibility
Rule of Law/Tough on Crime
U.S. Energy Independence
Peace Through Strength
Limited Government
Individual Freedom
Free Trade
Second Amendment/Right to Bear Arms
Lower Taxes
Protect the Unborn
Defend the Constitution
Free Market Capitalism
National Security
Deregulation
Individual Responsibility
Human Dignity
Securing Our Borders
Do Republicans fall short or fail at these principles? Of course, they do! Nevertheless, they are still (LGBT) conservative guiding values and principles to which we do our humanly best to strive and attain.
dbmcvey
This is your future Baron, (assuming you’re not lying about who you are), they will turn on you. They really don’t like you.
Baron Wiseman
@dbmcvey
Do you think I am a gay conservative to be liked!?! LOL!!! You and your “progressive” ilk have treated me worse than any heterosexual conservative ever has treated me.
I danced with men all night long at both of President George W. Bush’s Presidential Inaugurations in Washington, D.C. I, nor my friends, ever received even a dirty look from my fellow Republicans.
You need to grow up and get engaged in the world. As bad as you want it, the sky is not falling.
Ronbo
Your objectives are what eviscerated the American manufacturing industry – resulting in INCREASED poverty and destruction of the middle class. Were you even alive when President Bill Clinton adopted Reagan’s trickle-down nonsense?
THIS is what happens when the kids here scream and insult instead of using logic and reason. Are you listening dbmcvey, James, Cam, Kangool? Using Republican tactics help Republicans. Try logic and reason.
Kangol2
Ronbobo, you ought to take your own advice. You come on here like a Pollyanna upbraiding people and yet call for civility. You make states about politics and history that are quickly unmasked as incorrect. Clean your own d@mn house up first, or at least sweep that front porch, before you start telling others what to do.
Oh, and do we need to walk you through yet another history of DOMA and DADT?
Kangol2
Let’s go down Baron Wiseman’s list:
Fiscal Responsibility – The GQP has repeatedly exploded the deficit and debt with reckless tax cuts for billionaires, & collapsed the US economy (cf. W Bush 2007-2009, Donald the Con 2020-2021, etc.)
Rule of Law/Tough on Crime – The GQP is defending an attempted coup on January 6, 2021, that many senior Congressional members of that party decried; the party leader Don the Con not only has committed numerous crimes (including being convicted of sexual assault and defamation), but has seen numerous associates jailed for a range of crimes.
U.S. Energy Independence – Under Democrat Presidents Obama and current Biden, the US has come close to energy independence. Currently, despite the damage to our environment, the US is pumping and exporting more oil than ever before.
Peace Through Strength – This neoconservative canard has led to repeated US imperial disasters–Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, now Gaza, etc. It’s hollow and simplistic.
Limited Government – Another conservative canard, openly defied by “conservative” governments like Don the Con’s and the administrations in Florida, Texas, etc, which are banning speech, gerrymandering to retain power, etc.
Individual Freedom – Yet another conservative canard. Is the right to one’s own reproductive rights considered “individual freedom”? Is the right to speech by wearing drag? Or criticizing Israel’s genocide in Gaza? Etc.
Free Trade – Another conservative canard that has tanked US manufacturing, offshored millions of jobs, etc. over the years. There is no such thing as “free trade” or “free markets”; all involve both national and international actors, corporations, and systems of trade that are regulated by those in power.
Second Amendment/Right to Bear Arms – “A well-regulated militia being necessary….”
Lower Taxes – This should be for everyone, not just billionaires and corporations, and should not be gamed so that the poorest Americans and the working class bear the brunt of the GQP’s tax schemes.
Defend the Constitution – Cf. January 6, 2021
Free Market Capitalism – Cf. above
National Security – Cf. above
Deregulation – Another conservative canard; this essentially means allow corporations to monopolize and pollute and destroy and powerful actors to amass wealth with little oversight whatsoever. Smart regulation is the best regulation. Deregulation has wreaked havoc over the last 40 years.
Individual Responsibility – This should apply to everyone, including conservatives, including the leader of the Repub Party, Don the Con, whose individual crimes and fraud span decades, and yet he has never been sent to prison or held accountable. If this applies to the poor who have little support and resources it should apply to rich heirs like Don the Con.
Human Dignity – You’ve got MAGAs screaming out anti-gay slurs at a fellow Black conservative. Seriously?
bachy
Kango, you are THE best commenter on Queerty, hands down. Serving up the facts, minimizing the braying emotionalism. Thank you.
prime32
Before the term was hijacked, this is what woke truly meant in African-American circles. He got woken up! You can believe whatever you want but in the eyes of some, you are still a “Ni&&a” even though that word was conveniently absent from the video. For some of us, that ni&&a wake-up card comes later in life. But hey keep running in those circles, bruh!
SoPluckyWhat
The KayKayKay supports Republicants. Might be a clue there…..
Carlos
I know Rob Smith. We were part of the same volleyball team in New York City a few years ago. Based on my firsthand experience, I can attest that he is very irritating, self-centered, and consistently believes he’s always right. I consistently sensed an odd vibe from him. He texted me on few occasions wanting to “hang out”. I’m glad I didn’t bother to respond.
johncp56
Yes sounds like he fits right in with tRump and his followers, you dodged a bullet
johncp56
threw up in my mouth some, gay and a Rump lover just sick misguided humans,
Louis
So…despite being a Brit (and thus neither Democrat nor Republican), and despite voting for the Green Party in the last general election (which is about as far left as you can get), I fully expect to be called a “Right wing troll” for my comment today. Potentially even accused of being another user using a different username (as tends to be the attacking style on here).
It is disappointing to read through some of the comments on this post.
For example:
Do I agree that Mr Smith was naive to think that the Republicans would embrace a homosexual man of colour? Yes. The vitriol we see some (we can’t claim all) Republicans post/say would strongly indicate he would not be embraced and therefore to complain about said lack of embrace is silly.
Do I agree that Mr Smith should be insulted so much by the LGTBQ+ community due to him being a Republican? No. We may think him naive, we may think he supports a candidate and party contrary to LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms, but he is still a human being, a gay human being, and to throw so much ill-will at him solely for having contrary beliefs to our own makes us no better than those who persecute the LGBTQ+ community for having contrary beliefs to them.
I also thought Baron Wiseman’s post was accurate: some people identify as being more than just LGBTQ+ and therefore their voting intentions can reflect what is most important to them at that time.
An example is how at one stage in life, retaining the money I worked hard for was more important to me than other matters, and so I voted for the (UK) Conservative Party who are famously anti-increased taxation for high earners.
In 2019, ensuring climate change is managed appropriately, kept under control, and ensuring there is a planet for future generations to live on, was most important to me, and so I voted for the (UK) Green Party who are the most-green party in the UK.
These days, whilst I still care about keeping the money I earn, and keeping climate change under control, I am more concerned with how the trans community is being treated here in the UK and so at the next general election I’ll likely vote for the party which is saying they will do the most for the trans community (e.g. ban conversion therapy inclusive of trans or look to amend the Equality Act so that Scotland’s plans to make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender can be enforced). That might be the Greens again, it might be Labour, it might be the Liberal Democrats (it’s unlikely to be the Conservatives).
The point is that sometimes people vote for what matters to them most; and that may not always be LGBTQ+ rights. Whilst Kangol2 has effectively ruled out the Republicans ever being the party of choice for the topics Baron Wiseman raised (on which I cannot comment as I’m not au fait with them), it might be that LGBTQ+ folk disagree with Kangol2’s views and therefore do support the Republicans because they feel they’re the ones best suited to successfully do that which the voter wants to happen.
My final point is that I understand politics is a very divisive topic, especially in America (we’re fortunate enough here that even the majority of those on the right aren’t pushing for anti-abortion laws), and of course we can disagree and debate, but we shouldn’t be wishing death or ill-will on someone simply because of their political affiliation (Dem or Rep), because to do so makes us no better than when they (Dem or Rep) wish death or ill-will on the LGTBQ+ community.