California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing criticism from some LGBTQ observers after a series of social media exchanges that included references to the dating app Grindr.
The comments emerged during an ongoing online dispute between Newsom’s press office and conservative commentator Benny Johnson, highlighting how political messaging can intersect with LGBTQ themes—sometimes in ways that draw backlash.
The Start of the Online Exchange
The situation began in January when Benny Johnson announced plans for what he described as a “fraud investigation” trip to California, referring to the state as “the fraud capital of the world.”
In response, Newsom’s press office posted a short message online:
“We’ll make sure Grindr servers are ready…”
The remark quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing attention for its tone and implication.
Escalation on Social Media
The exchange did not end there. Johnson later claimed on social media that he had received a call from the White House following his media appearances discussing alleged fraud in California.
In response, Newsom’s press office posted on Bluesky again, stating:
“We got a call from Grindr after this and said your team was their biggest users. Congrats.”
In a separate interaction involving a diss track clip shared by conservative rapper Tom MacDonald, the press office replied:
“bro, we get it but he’s not interested… stick to Grindr.”
These responses continued to center around the same theme, extending the online back-and-forth.
RELATED: Did Gavin Newsom Cross a Line With His Grindr Joke About a MAGA Influencer?
Why the Response Is Being Critiqued
While political exchanges on social media often involve humor or sarcasm, some LGBTQ commentators have pointed out that using references to Grindr—or implying someone’s sexuality as part of a joke—can reinforce outdated ideas.
Grindr is widely recognized as a platform used primarily by gay, bisexual, and queer men. When it is used as a punchline, critics argue, it risks framing queerness as something to be mocked rather than normalized.
For LGBTQ audiences, the concern is not about political disagreement, but about how language is used in those disagreements. Even when directed at political opponents, these types of remarks can echo rhetoric that has historically been used in harmful ways.
Messaging and Representation
Newsom has previously positioned himself as a supporter of LGBTQ rights, including advocacy for same-sex marriage and protections for transgender individuals.
California Governor Gavin Newsom:
“I want to see trans kids… There’s no governor that’s done more pro trans legislation than I have.”
— America (@america) December 11, 2025
Because of that record, the tone of these recent exchanges has prompted discussion about consistency in messaging—particularly when engaging with political opponents.
The broader issue raised by critics is whether humor that references queer identity, even indirectly, aligns with efforts to support and affirm LGBTQ communities.
The Bigger Picture
Political discourse online continues to evolve, often becoming faster, sharper, and more public. But for LGBTQ audiences, moments like this highlight how language—intentional or not—can carry broader implications.
As public figures engage in digital debates, the expectation from many in the community remains the same: that support for LGBTQ people extends not just to policy, but also to how conversations are framed in the public sphere.
In the 1920s and 30s, the German social democrats and communists – who at the time were magnanimously opposed to Paragraph 175, the German sodomy law – used homophobic rhetoric to try to discredit the Nazi party (Rohm being a bussy-hound and all that) and forestall the fall of the Weimar Republic.
Not only did this fail to stop the Nazis from seizing power, but – in a moment of uniquely heterosexual stupidity that continues to baffle the mind to this day – this strategy metastasized into a full-blown conspiracy theory that the Nazi party was dominated by gay men, and that this was why they were so evil. This gay nazi myth would eventually be coopted by the political right wing in the US, most infamously by a certain Scott Lively.
The German SPD and successor organizations of the KPD have NEVER acknowledged or apologized for this, by the way.
Fast forward to the 2020s, and over the atlantic from Germany to the US. The Democrats are out of power federally and desperate for solutions to the Trump problem. And when you’re desperate, you’ll throw anything at the wall and hope it sticks…like accusing your opponents of being gay, or being on Grindr. There is an honest-to-God undercurrent of straight liberals and leftists who believe that most public homophobes are actually gay themselves. Not a vocal minority of them – most if not all of them. And seeing what happened in Weimar Germany, and the many, MANY unsettling parallels between that time period and the one we found ourselves in, it’s not unreasonable to be worried that a similar mindset of blaming-the-oppressed-for-their-own-misery could reemerge.
Now, straight libs and lefties will say that, “oh, well, we’re just criticizing their hypocrisy, we’re not queerphobes, you can trust us.” Seeing as how straight liberals and left-wingers abandoned our community during the 2024 election to fend against the far-right alone, we can’t actually trust them.
This is an absolute nothing burger. Lighten up and stop trying to make a scandal out of nothing, Instinct. Gavin’s completely right to call out so-called “conservatives'” hypocrisy. Do people forget what he did, and the political risk he took and capital he spent, when he started performing same-sex weddings, contrary to state law but because it was the right thing to do and he knew it would kick the movement into high gear, at SF City Hall back on February 12, 2004? That shit didn’t just happen in a vacuum, y’know.
Are you kidding? Why did you leave out the fact that when there are massive GOP gatherings in a city the local Grindr server crashes from overuse? The hypocrisy of the MAGAt Cult is what Newsom’s office is referencing, not attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. Jesus…I’m gay and I thought it funny.
I’m Queer myself & I take no offense from Gavin’s jokes! They are *NOT* mocking queer people, in my view… They’re mocking liars & bigots that are either fully in the closet or DL, all the while doing broad, widespread damage to the entire LGBTQ+ Community!!! 🤬
I don’t believe in outing private individuals or celebrities simply not ready to come out, yet… 💓
However, politicians who are supporting/creating people & laws that harm the greater LGBTQ+ Community should be outed for their HYPOCRISY & CRUELTY!!! 🤬
100% I agree
Yes.. I’m gay as well and agree
Sigh…it’s just insane to think Gavin Newsom, of all people, might be homophobic. I can’t think of a stronger, more supportive str8 ally. A grindr joke? Please!
Let’s focus, people!