Republican party issues brief celebrating Donald Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ pro-LGBT+ achievements. Yes, really
Donald Trump holds an LGBT+ Pride flag given to him by supporter. (Getty/ Chip Somodevilla)
The Republican Party has released a brief during Pride Month claiming that Donald Trump “has taken unprecedented steps to protect the LGBT+ community”. Yes, really.
The brief claims that Trump, who has worked hard to dismantle LGBT+ rights in America, has “kept his promise to protect LGBT+ citizens”.
As proof of its claim, the brief mostly lists things Trump has said, rather than things he has actually done.
For example, in his acceptance speech for his Republican nomination, he said he would do “everything in [his] power to protect LGBTQ citizens”, and in 2017 he said he would “enforce regulations” that protect LGBT+ rights.
The brief leans heavily on the fact that Trump appointed a gay man, Richard Grenell, to be the acting Director of National Intelligence and that he has, to date, nominated two LGBT+ judicial nominees.
It also boasts that Trump has appointed five gay US ambassadors… out of 189 positions.
The only change in legislation that the brief is able to point to is the reduction in time that gay and bisexual men have to remain celibate for before giving blood. This change was made during blood shortages because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Donald Trump, once again, has remained silent during LGBT+ Pride Month.
Donald Trump has consistently worked to dismantle LGBT+ rights throughout his presidency.
The Trump administration has banned transgender people from serving in the military, actively supported discrimination against LGBT+ people in employment, services and healthcare and erased LGBT+ resources, data and language from government websites.
This week, Trump’s Republican Party announced that it would be leaving its 2016 party platform unchanged, meaning that the GOP will continue to officially support the reversal of marriage equality.
The White House also failed to officially recognise Pride Month for yet another year, in contrast to the Obama administration.
While Joe Biden’s comprehensive LGBT+ policy plan has won him plaudits from campaigners, Trump’s re-election campaign has published no policies whatsoever on LGBT+ issues – though he is raising funds by selling rainbow ‘Make America Great Again’ t-shirts.
