Meeting the LGBT voters who are backing Trump this November

In February, only 2% of LGBT people were likely to vote for Trump. But according to a poll from last month, that number is now  18 per cent. Clinton still has a whopping lead among LGBT people with 54% expected to vote for her, but it’s overwhelmingly clear that LGBT people are quickly jumping on board the #TrumpTrain.

The last time I wrote on this subject, I interviewed the creator of an “LGBT For Trump” Facebook page. But since then it has become increasingly clear that this is more than just a little movement. So I want to dig deeper into this.

There are many reasons why this comes off as odd to most people. Trump does not support same-sex marriage, he has previously complained our “country is going to hell” because homophobes can’t freely express their thoughts due to “political correctness”, and has proposed appointing Supreme Court Justices that would overturn same-sex marriage.

However, it would be unfair only to point out the negative things he’s said. He is a lot more progressive on the bathroom issue than most right wing-politicians and once said sexual orientation would be “meaningless” in a Trump Administration because “[he] would want the best and the brightest” regardless of orientation. Moreover, he’s probably the first Republican presidential candidate to directly address the LGBT community and lend out his hand of support.

#LGBTForTrump supporter Ashley Elieser (who is openly transgender and originally voted for Obama) further defends Donald Trump by saying “at this time I believe terrorism is the biggest threat we face. If it comes down to terrorism versus what bathroom to use, [I’d] rather address terrorism! And [to] choose security for me and my fellow Americans first.”

She went on to say that “Many LGBT are drunk in the Democrat punch with all these promises and [trivial] rights passed, but to me they fail to see the big picture…people act like Hillary has been fighting for gay rights since the 70s … she was against gay marriage not so long ago.

“She needs votes now so she panders to gays, and she panders to blacks in the same way…first of all, if she was so pro-LGBT [then] she wouldn’t take money from countries that execute LGBT, not to mention she wants to increase immigration from those countries? Countries that [have people who] follow a dangerous ideology which encourages rape, pedophilia, and being gay [as] punishable by death. What do you think is going to happen? This is putting my community in harms way there is no ifs or buts about it!”

Another #LGBTForTrump supporter Stephen A. Suarez (who is openly gay and has always been generally conservative) makes the point that “from what I’ve seen him say many times, social issues are not at the top of his priorities. I haven’t seen him say he’s against gay marriage in general.

“It’s a dead issue since the courts have voted and since same-sex marriage became legal, I don’t know what else can be done. I’m grateful my partner and I are no frowned upon like different parts of history. However, I think people especially younger people should be more aware that we are individuals that don’t fall into many stereotypes or that we have in-group preferences.”

He continued on to say that “I believe LGBT Americans and Americans in general should get what they need and not what they think they want.”

While someone’s race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation should not define anyone’s political beliefs (as that only re-enforces stereotypes and is a refusal to embrace diversity), other LGBT people have a lot to say about their fellow community-members who support Trump.

Jenna Beardsley (who is a liberal, identifies as gay, and plans on voting for Clinton) believes “if you are a member of  the LGBT community and think it’s fine that our [potential] president believes strongly in traditional marriage, then I am unsure what to say. Yes the courts have already voted, but there are [ample] ways to restrict or deny the LGBT community other rights besides marriage. Clinton’s campaign strategies can be obnoxious sometimes, yes, [but] she is not just just saying she supports LGBT, she is actually carrying that out in politics.”

Continuing to point out problems she believes Trump withholds, she stated “I understand the wish to address security, but America has literally always had this extreme fear of immigrants, and time and time again immigrant society assimilates, becomes productive, and engages with American ideals and habits.

“More terrorism is actually perpetrated by American citizens, and this trend will only continue [as long as] politicians like Trump utilize fear as a tactic to gain votes; scared people don’t make good choices. It’s not worth sacrificing tolerance and cooperation in order to mitigate fear”.

And Brandan (who is also a liberal, gay, and is holding out for Sanders) said in response to #LGBTForTrump: “the LGBT community needs more assistance in the effort to eliminate the amount of homeless LGBT youth [as well as in progressing] the rights of transsexuals. I would argue of all LGBT issues that these two are of top priority for the community. Unlike Trump (or Hillary), back in the 80s, Bernie actual supported a pride parade as well as he’s the only one who’s also made any statements about homeless transsexuals, and [has supported the community] overall; Bernie has been the most consistent with his support of the LGBT community making Burlington a safe space, spaces many of the LGBT community in America lack today. And so I want a leader who will passionately work for this for the entire country, which I question the other two candidates’s ability to do. Particularly Trump. My message to #LGBTForTrump is you’re making a mistake.”

No matter who you support, whether you’re white or black, gay or straight, cis-gender or transgender, leftist or conservative, we must not allow recent events to allow us to start being prejudiced towards one another. Yes, radical jihadism (or as many call: radical Islam) is a threat. Yes, illegal immigration is a problem. Yes, our national security has a lot to improve on. Hell, there are plenty of issues in our country. However, just because we have these problems gives us no excuse to be racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic, or really any type of “-phobic”.

The recent rise in hatred (not that it wasn’t there before, just more unleashed) is terrifying and unacceptable. I understand there are many reasons to be terrified and angry in this day and age, but (in my opinion) being terrified and hateful of one another is going to burn us to the ground in the end. We must work together to stop radical terrorism, to secure our borders, to ensure our security, to pull each other up rather than push each other down. Pointing fingers at one another and being divisive will get us nowhere. The problems we face today cannot be solved with bigotry and extreme political correctness.

So whether you join others like Ashley and Stephen on the #TrumpTrain, or you’re #ImWithHer, or maybe plan to vote for someone else, please think about their ability to unite us, not divide us.