President Trump took to twitter today to pat himself on the back for all his administration has done to expand gay rights, while critics responded that since the day he took office, his administration has waged a nonstop onslaught against the rights of LGBTQ people.
Trump did make a bit of history today, becoming the first Republican president to acknowledge the LGBT celebration of Pride Month:
As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
….on the basis of their sexual orientation. My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
But the tweet came exactly one week after Trump’s administration unveiled a proposal to rescind nondiscrimination protections for transgender people under the Affordable Care Act.
Also last week, the administration finalized one rule allowing medical workers to refuse to treat trans people based on religious objections, while drafting another that would allow homeless shelters to turn away transgender individuals.
People in the LGBTQ community are also more likely to experience barriers in finding and receiving healthcare.
Trump’s tweet prompted a swift rebuttal from Lucifer star Lesley-Ann Brandt, who took aim at Vice President Mike Pence:
Yeah, I call rainbow bullshit. “ I celebrate you but my Vice President believes in conversion therapy, I won’t protect you in school, I won’t give you healthcare, or protect you from discrimination at work….” https://t.co/jMm6km5One
— ?Lesley-Ann Brandt (@LesleyAnnBrandt) May 31, 2019
“Oh and I don’t think you be in the military” #stfu https://t.co/sBr2jB9zPE
— ?Lesley-Ann Brandt (@LesleyAnnBrandt) May 31, 2019
Pence has long been accused of supporting “conversion therapy,” the practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
It has been discredited by the medical establishment and denounced by gay and transgender groups.
Brandt also suggested that her demon character Maze could do some “conversion therapy” in the expected season 5 of Lucifer:
Season 5 idea. Maze goes to conversion therapy camp and does some “converting”. ?️?✊?
— ?Lesley-Ann Brandt (@LesleyAnnBrandt) May 31, 2019
During the presidential campaign, Trump presented himself as something of an LGBT ally.
He made history by becoming the first GOP presidential nominee to mention the LGBT community in his convention acceptance speech.
Just last week, the president was selling $24 LGBTQ for Trump rainbow shirts to fundraise for his reelection.
But since he entered the Oval Office, Trump has been silent on Pride Month, not tweeting about it, nor issuing any official presidential proclamations or statements similar to what he had done for National Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Older Americans Month, and Great Outdoors Month, among others.
In addition to banning transgender people from the military, the Trump administration has said it is legal for companies to fire workers for being trans or for being gay.
The administration has also argued to the Supreme Court that it is legal for shopkeepers to deny service to LGBT individuals if they have religious objections.
Among other actions, Trump has also retracted a proposal to count LGBT people in the census.
In March, a Trump official told the Washington Blade that the administration also opposed the Equality Act.
The bill, which would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against the LGBT community, passed the Democrat-controlled House this month, but is not likely to receive support from Republicans in the Senate or White House.
Trump’s Friday tweets referenced his administration’s plans, first reported in February by NBC News, to launch a global campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality.
The day after that report, however, Trump appeared to have no knowledge of the plan when asked by reporters at the White House.
Q: Mr. President, on your push to decriminalize homosexuality, are you doing that? And why?
TRUMP: Say it?
Q: Your push to decriminalize homosexuality around the world.
TRUMP: I don’t know which report you’re talking about. We have many reports.
Via Yahoo News pic.twitter.com/AQH4i66u9s
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 20, 2019
The South African born Brandt, never a Trump fan, was the victim of racial slurring just hours after America voted in 2016.
The star tweeted after the election: “Woke up to ‘f**k you nigger. Pack your bags and get the f** out. Bye immigrant.’ Trump 2016 indeed. Heart feeling really heavy today.”
She then tweeted: “I am a minority. I am a woman. I am an immigrant. What does this mean for me now?”
Astrid Nillson tweeted Brandt: “If you’re not American, kindly shut the hell up about our political situation. Or go home. Seriously.”
But Brandt has remained in the US, and continued to be a fan favorite portraying Mazikeen in the hit show.
And it isn’t just Brandt tweeting about current issues either.
[Tom Ellis About To Get Hitched Requests Donations To Planned Parenthood For Wedding Gift]
Lucifer star Tom Ellis went political this week too.
Instead of wedding gifts, he and his soon-to-be-wife Meaghan Oppenheimer requested that donations be made to Planned Parenthood.
Thank you to all the people that have been asking about wedding gifts or charitable donations for my upcoming nuptials with @MoppyOpps that is so kind. If you would like to make a donation to @PPFA #plannedparenthood we would be very grateful ???
— tom ellis (@tomellis17) May 22, 2019
We’ve had some people asking where they can donate or send gifts in honor of @tomellis17 and my upcoming wedding. We want to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness and ask that, if you feel like it, you donate to Planned Parenthood @PPFA – thank you! #StoptheBans
— Meaghan Oppenheimer (@MoppyOpps) May 22, 2019
Planned Parenthood, which recently marked its 100th year, is being targeted by anti-abortion lawmakers who have introduced Congressional legislation to block federal funding for the group.