LGBT+ panic as JD Vance selected as Trump’s VP candidate

Donald Trump has selected JD Vance as his vice-presidential candidate for the 2024 election, a choice that has sparked significant controversy among LGBTQ advocacy groups. Vance, a senator from Ohio and previous critic of Trump as President, has authored and supported various bills that these organizations argue are harmful to the LGBTQ community.

The Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD have particularly criticized Vance for his legislative efforts, Jake notes, including a proposed prohibition on “X” gender markers on U.S. passports, an option introduced by the State Department in April 2022. Additionally, Vance has called for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, mirroring a similar bill proposed by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Vance has publicly stated that doctors should not perform gender-affirming surgeries on minors, labeling these procedures as “gruesome” and “irreversible.” Furthermore, his opposition to federal protections for gay and interracial marriages has been a point of contention, with Vance describing these legislative efforts as “bizarre distractions.”

He has also defended the use of the term “groomer,” a derogatory term often aimed at LGBTQ individuals and their allies. In April 2022, Vance stated on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that he would stop using the term when people ceased opposing bills designed to “prevent the sexualization of children.”

The selection of Vance as Trump’s running mate continues to generate debate, particularly concerning LGBTQ rights and the broader socio-political implications.