Trump: I will “protect LGBTQ citizens”
Trump was cheered as he promised to defend LGBTQ people against "hateful" ideology -- except that which comes from his own party
“As president, I will do everything in my power to protect LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology.”
—Donald Trump, during his keynote speech last night at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
“Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist,” Trump said. “This time, the terrorist targeted LGBTQ community. No good. And we’re going to stop it. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. Believe me!”
Trump was cheered by the convention crowd, leading him to ad lib: “And I have to say as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said. Thank you.”
It was the same crowd that just days earlier had approved the most anti-LGBT party platform in the GOP’s history. A platform that caused Log Cabin Republican president Gregory T. Angelo to tell his supporters that he was “mad as hell.” A platform committee that ignored the pleas of the only LGBT person on the committee, who begged them to respect her rights.
Hillary Clinton’s Twitter team were also quick to point out the hypocrisy in Trump’s statement:
Here’s how the Republican ticket would “protect” LGBT Americans. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/bcHNM1EMxL
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 22, 2016
Your party’s official platform supports “conversion therapy,” @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/RhgfCSNSxR
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 22, 2016
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