Republican Rep. Paul Gosar succeeded in finding the worst possible response to Tuesday’s horrific elementary school shooting, and now folks are calling on him to resign.
Gosar took to Twitter to spread a completely baseless rumor that the gunman who killed at least 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, was a trans, “leftist illegal alien.”
“It’s a transsexual leftist illegal alien named Salvatore Ramos,” the MAGA politician wrote.
At the time of his tweet, the shooter had already been confirmed to be 18-year-old Salvadore Rolando Ramos, a cisgender male.
While the vile tweet was later deleted, the lie continues to spread across Twitter and Reddit, with some users dangerously sharing images of innocent trans people and claiming they are Ramos.
Related: Tomi Lahren said something stupid about yesterday’s school shooting and Twitter is NOT having it
Redditor Apprehensive_Ad_995 is one of the falsely accused trans people; she took to the online forum to assure everyone, “It’s not me, I don’t even live in Texas.”
Other users across Twitter have been fighting the misinformation:
Many are posting photos of a young male in women’s clothing claiming it is the #Uvalde, Texas mass shooter. Those images are unconfirmed & unverified. Please stop sharing them because in the event they aren’t Ramos, you’re harming someone who had nothing to do with the shooting.
— Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) May 24, 2022
Needless to say, people are more than a bit pissed about Gosar’s comments, with many calling on him to resign:
Raise your hand if you think Paul Gosar should resign.
— Martin Schneider (@MartinSL_718) May 25, 2022
Paul Gosar needs to resign and…
Oh who am I kidding. We're in the post-accountability age for everything and the GOP will do nothing.
— Operative_X (@OperativeXRay) May 25, 2022
It's hatemongers like @RepGosar that make me afraid for my partner's life, for our family, for our community. Resign, Gosar. You're not deserving of the office you hold. https://t.co/p0mkdCQkVG
— libfeministqueerexmo (@doulapassage) May 25, 2022
You’re a disgrace. Resign. pic.twitter.com/QZkmXy6cyT
— Bean, the ?? (@Bean_of_Boston) May 25, 2022
@RepGosar you are sick and need to resign.
— J-Wo (@JWosRainbows) May 25, 2022
Gosar has not apologized or even publicly acknowledged the wildly offensive tweet.
He did, however, take a moment to congratulate his pal Marjorie Taylor Greene on winning her primary election.
Mister P
He knows that even though he took it down, there are enough idiots who will believe it and perpetuate the lie.
Since they refuse to offer solutions to gun violence they are reduced to spreading lies about those who commit gun violence.
jt1990
The shooter didn’t appear trans, but he certainly wasn’t white. So we can rule out white supremacy as the motive this time. I guess the narrative for this round will be gun control! But I’ll admit, there was no reason for this 18 year old to have an AR-15. I know as a former gun salesman, we are able to deny a gun sale based on our judgement, even if the background check clears. I would have immediately suspected weapons trafficking, and denied the sale. Especially being so close to the border. Out of the millions of gun owners, most gun violence is committed by nonwhites and mentally ill young white men.
LeBlevsez
jt1990 –
You’re not so bright. But your racism, that’s glaring.
dbmcvey
@ jt1990
Who said he was white? The story was that this bigot congressman said he was trans.
Polaro
Took it down because of the impending lawsuit that most likely should come.
kish
His own family is against him
Eternal.Cowboy
He sounds like the Chappelle apologists in the Queerty comments.
Polaro
The fact you can’t tell the difference between Chappelle and Gosar isn’t surprising.
Eternal.Cowboy
Well that was a spectacular reading comprehension failure on your part. I didn’t compare Chappelle and Gosar. I compared it to Chappelle apologists like you. That fact that you couldn’t figure that out kinda proves my point. Neither you nor Gosar are particularly bright.
Ronbo
EC wrote an ambigious “he” and refuses to acknowledge HIS basic grammar mistake; wrong on the basics doesn’t bode well for the complex.
Years ago, people like EC worked hard to silence gays and lesbians – hoping censorship would deny our existence and civil rights. Now EC wants to censor humor – as if you can censor away inherent proof of humanity (humor).
I remember opposing censorship chanting “live and let live” at the homophobes supporting Anita Bryant. But it seems EC prefers “live and tell others what to hear, see and think.”
It’s sad to see gays age into a self-hating Republicans like Graham. It’s OK to be gay, straight or trans. Here’s an idea – self-censor what YOU watch. You can turn off the TV.
Eternal.Cowboy
Rondo –
The grammar is perfectly clear. The article is about Paul Gosar. That makes him the “he” in my comment.
As for the rest of your comment, please point to where I attempted to censor anyone.
inbama
LOL. Nice to see the Proud Boys’ comfort girl call out Gosar’s phony photos, but she’s afraid to alienate her fan base by mentioning his name.
Jim
He and Cancun Cruz are committed to making political hay out of other’s pain.
Mister P
JT1990. It has been about gun control after Buffalo, Sandy Hook, Pulse night club and the church also near San Antonio and all the other mass shootings and every incident of gun violence..
White supremacy is a problem and out of control guns are a problem too
bobbyjoe
Can’t the misidentified individual now sue Gosar for libel? It definitely has caused that person harm (I hear there have been death threats) and the tone of Gosar’s tweets is definitely malacious. Lawyer up and take Gosar to the cleaners.
shaunpaul1234
U must b between 15-25 yrs
A snowflake, all th way
Sue for what?
U folks cnt take words
Its all so traumatizing & triggerring
Besides, even assholes like gosar gt freedom of speech,
Furthermore the piece of shit, the shooter, is dead
I DNT THINK, he will show up in court!!
Polaro
Yes, he can sue and he should.
Mack
Shaunpaul1234 what are you-5 years old? Can’t even write, you have to use how you write a text with. Just how pathetic is that.
fur_hunter
The only time anything will be accomplished by Congress is when voters remove M ORON republiKKKans from office and replace them with people who will act for the benefit of the American people. But don’t expect this to happen any time soon. Why? Because there are too many dumb $ H!T voters who will continue to vote IMBECILE republiKKKans back into office…….. again…. and again…… and again…… and again. You can’t fix STUPID!!!
radiooutmike
I would like to think that if a transperson bought an AR-15, that they’d have the good sense to kill some deep red (R)s versus innocent children and adults.
Ronbo
Your fantasy killing people is just so wrong. Were you raised by Republicans?
cuteguy
Unfortunately this will prob help him in his constituents. Look at how Majorie Taylor Biggot succeeded
Polaro
Tragic. I’m at a loss for words.
dbmcvey
Just like Dave Chappelle said the guy who attacked him was trans. These people are just obsessed.
Polaro
The fact you can’t tell the difference between Chappelle and Gosar isn’t surprising.
MISTERJETT
SIGH
SDR94103
pure evil.
mateo
You want GOP politicians like this douchebag (plus a few Dems) to change their tune on drive-by/school/church/shopping center/restaurant/bowling alley/etc. shootings? The shut down the NRA; declare it an illegal institution and a harvester of domestic terrorsts. Next, imprison Wayne LaPierre. Finally and most importantly, prohibit campaign contributions from any and all NRA members (past and present).
Do you think this sounds extreme? Then come up with a better proposal. I’d love to hear it.
Polaro
I find it hard to believe that a sitting congressman would publicly post the way he does, or the things he promotes. I’m at a loss for just how unprofessional and stupid this man is.
Eternal.Cowboy
That is an interesting comment given how much alike you two sound.
Heywood Jablowme
Yes, if only he were a pseudonymous transphobic Queerty commenter. No one would consider that “unprofessional” because you guys don’t get paid… probably.
Mack
He’s a Republican all he knows how to do is lie and make shit up. Donald is his hero, so that’s no surprise.
marxist_homo
I don’t think we actually know whether or not he was trans. There are some other photos circulating of him wearing a dress that seem to be authentic. The fact that some people jumped the gun and circulated photos of another straight dude who gets off on wearing panties and who looks remarkably similar to this dude doesn’t mean he wasn’t also trans.
And given the high association between sociopathic tendencies and autogynephilic trans women, it wouldn’t be totally shocking if he was trans.
Eternal.Cowboy
You keep saying he so it sounds like you are 100% sure that a trans woman didn’t do it. You know, because a trans woman is a she.
Den
Damn you’re an idiot! Why do you right wing hetero clowns never understand we are not as stupid as you. We see right through your childish lies.
Fname Optional Lname
“high association between sociopathic tendencies and autogynephilic trans women”
said Fox News and the ignorant Republicans everywhere
marxist_homo
actually Fname Optional Lname, I don’t know if Fox News or ignorant Republicans everywhere have said it, but it’s a fact: there’s a significantly higher rate of narcissism and other sociopathic personality traits and tendencies among trans women than the general population (or gay men and lesbians). We (gay men and lesbians) are the ones who will end up suffering as long as you morons refuse to acknowledge that fact and continue to insist that trans people have anything to do with us.
LeBlevsez
marxist_homo –
Citations, please.
Most of your sources will use arguments recycled from the “same-sex attraction is narcissism” playbook (New and Improved. Now with more Autogynephilia!).
You are allying yourself with all manner of bigots and may not even realize it. And, yes, transphobia is bigotry.
Essie
The fact that Gosar’s family thinks he’s mental and in need of an institution says a lot about the person he is.
eclecticstarz
@ jt1990 please don’t let facts hinder your bigoted stream of skittery piffle.
TomG
Obviously Gosar is one of the uneducated just like his supporters if he doesn’t understand what cisgender is.
Mister P
Poor right wingnuts. They want a Trans villain so badly.
ShiningSex
republican gays are idiots