Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate for Missouri’s next secretary of state, posted a controversial campaign video in which she advised viewers not to be “weak and gay.” The video, which showed her jogging in a weighted vest and pink shorts, received nearly 3 million views and sparked a strong backlash on social media. Many criticized the video, including former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, who called it “veteran cosplay” and accused Gomez of using bigotry as a substitute for strength. LGBTQ activists, including lesbian tennis superstar Martina Navratilova and queer video game developer Brianna Wu, condemned the video as homophobic and offensive.
Some social media users responded to Gomez’s video by posting shirtless pictures of themselves and using the hashtag #BeWeakAndGay in defiance of the stereotype that gay people, particularly gay men, are weak. In response to Gomez’s message, the online media company Betches released a collection of hats that read “Be Weak And Gay,” with 20% of profits being donated to Lambda Legal, a civil rights group that advocates for LGBTQ rights. Despite the backlash, Gomez did not directly address the content of her campaign video or the criticism she received but instead focused on President Trump and false claims of voter fraud. She expressed support for Trump and denounced the criminal probes against him, calling them “baseless.”
This was not the first time Gomez made offensive remarks about LGBTQ people. Earlier in the year, she posted a video of herself burning LGBTQ books with a flamethrower, stating that she would do the same to “grooming books” if elected as secretary of state. The video received over 4 million views and sparked outrage among LGBTQ advocates and allies. Critics accused Gomez of promoting censorship and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. Despite the controversy surrounding her campaign videos, Gomez continues to attract attention for her provocative and offensive statements.
The response to Gomez’s campaign videos highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in politics and society. While progress has been made in terms of LGBTQ rights and representation, there are still individuals like Gomez who perpetuate harmful stereotypes and promote discrimination. LGBTQ activists and allies have mobilized to push back against hate speech and bigotry, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and acceptance in today’s political landscape. The controversy surrounding Gomez’s videos serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and justice for the LGBTQ community.
