Ron DeSantis criticized over ‘homophobic’ video | Reuters
Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv Reuters home World Business Markets Sustainability Legal Breakingviews Technology Investigations More My View Register United States Ron DeSantis criticized over ‘homophobic’ video By Jason LangeJuly 1, 20238:09 PM UTCUpdated ago Florida Governor Ron Desantis addresses Iowa residents on his second day of campaigning as an official candidate for the 2024 U.S. Republican presidential nomination, at Sun Valley Barn in Pella, Iowa, U.S. May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights WASHINGTON, July 1 (Reuters) – Gay Republicans criticized as “homophobic” a video posted by Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’ campaign highlighting rival Donald Trump’s past statements in support of gay rights, and the former president declined at a rally on Saturday to respond to the attack. Florida Governor DeSantis’ campaign posted the video on Twitter late on Friday, saying it marked the end of a month of LGBTQ+ pride celebrations. “To wrap up Pride Month, let’s hear from the politician who did more than any other Republican to celebrate it,” the campaign said in presenting the video. It contrasted Trump’s 2016 pledge to “do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens” with DeSantis’ own hardline conservatism regarding transgender and other LGBTQ+ rights. It was unclear who originally produced the video, which featured a montage of muscle-bound men, bolts of electricity flying from DeSantis’ eyes, and activists lamenting what they characterized as his efforts to restrict transgender rights. “This is undeniably homophobic,” Richard Grenell – who was the first openly gay White House Cabinet official as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s 2017-2021 administration – said on Twitter late on Friday. As governor, DeSantis has backed state laws aimed at restricting medical treatment for transgender children and barring minors from attending drag shows in Florida. His campaign did not respond on Saturday to a request for comment. At a rally in Pickens, South Carolina, Trump did not acknowledge the broadside from the campaign for DeSantis, who trails far behind the former president in public opinion polls and is working to build support with hard-right positions on abortion, transgender rights and other issues. Instead, Trump, over the course of an hour-long campaign speech, repeatedly criticized sporting events that have allowed transgender women to participate in women’s competitions. “I will keep men out of women’s sports,” he vowed. Trump pledged at the 2016 Republican National Convention to protect gay rights. But, as president, he was criticized when he banned transgender people from serving in the military and his administration proposed stripping protections for transgender people facing healthcare discrimination. Asked on Saturday for a comment on the video, Trump’s campaign pointed to a tweet posted Friday night in which Trump adviser Jason Miller said “somebody’s getting fired” over the DeSantis campaign’s post. Miller did not elaborate. The Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative group that advocates for gay rights, said Republicans need to stand up against “radical Left gays” but that DeSantis had gone too far. “DeSantis and his team can’t tell the difference between commonsense gays and the radical Left gays,” the group said in a tweet late on Friday, saying the presidential hopeful “has just ventured into homophobic territory.” Reporting by Jason Lange in Washington; Additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and by David Brunnstrom in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Acquire Licensing Rights , opens new tab Read Next United StatescategoryExclusive: U.S. lawmakers demand Harvard, MIT, Penn remove presidents after antisemitism hearing9:24 PM UTC article with gallery United StatescategoryMichigan teen gets life in prison for 2021 school shooting9:53 PM UTC · Updated ago article with gallery Healthcare & PharmaceuticalscategoryUS FDA approves two gene therapies for sickle cell disease8:52 PM UTC United StatescategoryTrump immunity appeal offers best chance to stave off 2020 election trial11:18 AM UTC More from Reuters World article with gallery Explainer: Key challenges facing Putin if he gets a new six-year termExplainer · December 8, 2023 · 1:23 PM UTC Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will seek another six years in the Kremlin by standing in an election in March where his victory is widely assumed to be a foregone conclusion. EuropecategoryNo quick EU path to give Ukraine profits on sanctioned Russian assets5:10 PM UTC Middle EastcategoryPalestinian president says Gaza war must end, conference needed to reach settlement5:24 PM UTC AfricacategoryEthiopia edges towards default as bondholder talks falter7:31 PM UTC AmericascategoryCanada’s opposition filibusters overnight against PM Trudeau’s carbon tax6:07 PM UTC Site Index Browse World Business Markets Sustainability Legal Breakingviews Technology Investigations , opens new tab Sports Science Lifestyle About Reuters About Reuters , opens new tab Careers , opens new tab Reuters News Agency , opens new tab Brand Attribution Guidelines , opens new tab Reuters Leadership , opens new tab Reuters Fact Check , opens new tab Reuters Diversity Report , opens new tab Stay Informed Download the App (iOS) , opens new tab Download the App (Android) , opens new tab Newsletters , opens new tab Information you can trust Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Follow Us Thomson Reuters Products Westlaw , opens new tab Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Onesource , opens new tab The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Checkpoint , opens new tab The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. LSEG Products Workspace , opens new tab Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. Data Catalogue , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. World-Check , opens new tab Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Advertise With Us , opens new tab Advertising Guidelines , opens new tab Coupons , opens new tab Acquire Licensing Rights , opens new tab Cookies , opens new tab Terms of Use , opens new tab Privacy , opens new tab Digital Accessibility , opens new tab Corrections , opens new tab Site Feedback , opens new tab All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 2023 Reuters. All rights reserved
@[100044410750288:2048:Ron DeSantis] created the most bigoted advertisement in recent memory because he knows bigotry is key to a Republican primary.