Trump makes LGBT community pitch after Orlando, but their response is mixed
- 8 years ago
Donald Trump has fashioned himself as a champion for LGBT rights in the wake of a terrorist attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando that left 49 people dead.
Trump and his surrogates have cast rival Hillary Clinton as a late-comer to causes important to gay people.
They have accused the likely Democratic nominee of being a hypocrite, pointing to the Clinton Foundation's acceptance of money from Middle Eastern countries where gay discrimination is codified into law.
Trump has also argued that he’s the only candidate willing to stand up to terrorists who are inspired by radical Islam, and by extension, the only one who can protect the LGBT community from further attacks.
“Ask the gays what they think and what they do in not only Saudi Arabia, but in many of these countries with the gay community,” Trump said at a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Many LGBT activists scoffed at his words, but some gay conservatives said Trump has a point.
Trump and his surrogates have cast rival Hillary Clinton as a late-comer to causes important to gay people.
They have accused the likely Democratic nominee of being a hypocrite, pointing to the Clinton Foundation's acceptance of money from Middle Eastern countries where gay discrimination is codified into law.
Trump has also argued that he’s the only candidate willing to stand up to terrorists who are inspired by radical Islam, and by extension, the only one who can protect the LGBT community from further attacks.
“Ask the gays what they think and what they do in not only Saudi Arabia, but in many of these countries with the gay community,” Trump said at a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Many LGBT activists scoffed at his words, but some gay conservatives said Trump has a point.