On Tuesday, House Republicans used a GIF of verbal voguer and Hitfix writer Louis Virtel’s now-famous appearance on Jeopardy! to promote their Snapchat coverage (yes, you read that correctly) of the State of the Union.
The GIF in question was of a memorable snap Virtel did after winning a Double Jeopardy! challenge when he appeared on the show back in May. House Republicans took that image and imposed “SNAP OF THE UNION” (also the name of their Snapchat coverage) over Virtel’s triumphant performance.
Virtel, however, was none too pleased with his image and iconography being co-opted by the GOP.
Virtel tweeted, “Hey, GOP! Your candidates are horrifying garbage who’ve done nothing for LGBT rights. Don’t use my image. I think every day about closeted gay kids who want to kill themselves because their parents are ignorant, fearful Republicans. The reason people liked my snap was because it defied regressive, homophobic, scary-ass losers like you.”
Hey, GOP! Your candidates are horrifying garbage who've done nothing for LGBT rights. Don't use my image. https://t.co/N1zddPOeZR
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) January 12, 2016
@GOP I think every day about closeted gay kids who want to kill themselves because their parents are ignorant, fearful Republicans.
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) January 12, 2016
Dear @GOP: The reason people liked my snap was because it defied regressive, homophobic, scary-ass losers like you. https://t.co/N1zddPOeZR
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) January 12, 2016
Speaking with Slate about Republicans using his image to promote their agenda, Virtel said,
As a gay guy who is protective and militantly proud of his gayness, it’s both hilarious and borderline traumatizing to see the GOP mistake my energy for something in line with their ideals. Like many longtime out-and-proud gay guys from the Midwest, I’ve known plenty of closeted folks who are terrified of coming out. They all have one thing in common: Their parents are staunch Republicans. The GOP as it stands is a regressive and terrifying threat to LGBT Americans, and if the GOP can’t see that a gay guy on Jeopardy! wouldn’t want to be associated with them, it’s only further proof of their brutal ignorance.
If that response isn’t worth snapping about, I don’t know what is. Enjoy his snap, free from Republican taint, below.
And relive Virtel’s performance in full video form, here.
