In his speech accepting the Republican nomination for president at tonight's GOP convention in Cleveland, Donald Trump warned of the threat of “brutal Islamic terrorism” and used the massacre in Orlando to pivot to a mention of the LGBTQ community:
“Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist. This time, the terrorist targeted our LGBTQ community. 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.”
When the crowd got to their feet to cheer Trump's statement, he went off script and praised them:
“And I have to say as a Republican it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said. Thank you.”
Trump: "I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens" https://t.co/8d8LKNLQhc pic.twitter.com/8orxzXAOVw
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 22, 2016
Sadly, LGBTQ people face more of a threat from the Republican Party itself.
The GOP platform includes provisions supporting state laws to restrict transgender rights on bathroom use, and support of conversion therapy for gay people. It also says “that ‘natural marriage' between a man and a woman is most likely to result in offspring who do not become drug-addicted or otherwise damaged.” The platform calls for overturning the SCOTUS marriage decision and makes references to appointing judges ‘who respect traditional family values.'”
