After campaigning on a promise to protect LGBTQ Americans, then ignoring Pride Month for his first two years in office, Donald Trump has finally acknowledged the annual celebration.
In two tweets, Trump wrote about ‘the outstanding contributions of LGBT people’ and standing in ‘solidarity’ with those who live in countries that execute us.
“As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation,” Trump tweeted.
As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
….on the basis of their sexual orientation. My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
I guess he really is moving into campaign mode.
In his tweets, he references his administration’s proposed ‘global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality’ around the world, which is to be led by openly gay U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell.
But shortly after the announcement of that plan in February, Trump was asked about the campaign and he seemed unaware of the effort saying, “I don’t know, uh, which report you’re talking about. We have many reports.”
https://twitter.com/tfitzsimons/status/1098624180025737216
Quick fact check: Trump’s administration has been the most anti-LGBTQ in recent times. He’s rolled back many Obama-era protections and has been particularly hideous to transgender Americans.
A quick search of the WhiteHouse.gov website did not find a proclamation acknowledging Pride Month as was normal practice during all 8 years of the Obama administration.
Although, in 2018, Trump did take time to recognize Great Outdoors Month, National Ocean Month, National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, African-American Music Appreciation Month, and National Homeownership Month.
But, in these wild times, some acknowledgment is better than none…?
To be fair, in terms of history, this does make the Trumpster the first Republican occupant of the Oval Office to even recognize Pride Month.
The Twitterverse was underwhelmed by the tweets. Here are just some of the reactions beginning with House co-sponsor of The Equality Act, Rep. David Cicilline:
Nice Tweet. Now, how about telling Mitch McConnell to bring up the Equality Act?
— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) May 31, 2019
Actions speak louder than words. This is a cheap political play and we see right through it. Your administration has attacked the rights of LGBTQ people more than 100 times. https://t.co/RaJ0AzRPNv
— GLAAD (@glaad) May 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/american_putz/status/1134561031957688320
Oh please. In the past month you’ve opposed the #EqualityAct, rolled back vital housing and healthcare protections for transgender people and targeted #LGBT parents. Your administration is no ally.
— Ryan Thoreson (@ryanthoreson) May 31, 2019
Trump is most anti-LGBT president in history. Facts speak for themselves.
This tweet is not meant for LGBTs — we’re too smart for that.
It’s meant for media — & some already heralding it — so he can make suburban col-educated straights think he’s not so bigoted.
Stop it. https://t.co/gvRsf0MWkr
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) May 31, 2019
As Trump tweets about Pride Month, remember the Trump admin just proposed to scrap an Obama-era policy that prohibited health care providers from discriminating against transgender patients. The rule would also strike down protections for LGBTQ patients. https://t.co/K2xuxtdUk3
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 31, 2019
Trump has become the first Republican president to acknowledge Pride Month, even as his administration works to undo and attack the civil rights of the LGBT community.https://t.co/BqXspLdYJm
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) May 31, 2019
(main image via screen capture/stock photo)
Is Pence going to celebrate Pride too?
Is Pence going to celebrate Pride too?