GOP House Speaker Finally Mentions Orlando LGBT Victims, Ignores How Often He Voted Against Them

Paul Ryan Politicizes Tragedy in Tuesday Morning Press Conference

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan minutes ago held a Republicans-only press conference to politicize the horrific terror attack at an Orlando gay nightclub. Surrounded by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Ryan began his remarks by finally mentioning that the target of the terror attack was the LGBT community – something he neglected to mention in his two earlier press releases. 

After noting Sunday’s attack was the worst act of terrorism since 9/11, yet neglecting to mention it was also the deadliest mass shooting in our nation’s history, Ryan paid tribute to the dead and prayed for the injured. And he denounced radical Islam for the attack.

“At the same time, let’s also be clear,” Ryan then said. “Members of the LGBT community were the targets. They were simply attacked for who they are,” he said, returning his focus to radical Islam. “This is an ideology that rejects who we are as a country: open, tolerant, free.” The Speaker then politicized the attack.

“This is a threat that simply must be defeated,” he said, solemnly. “And right now the president doesn’t have a plan to get the job done.”

Speaker Ryan is among the first to even mention that Sunday’s terror attack was aimed at the LGBT community. Almost no Republican Senator or Congressman has. Nor have most Florida Republicans, including Governor Rick Scott.

But the Speaker had every opportunity over the past two days to mention LGBT people were the victims and the targets, and until today, he has not.

Speaker Ryan has, however, worked against and throughout his career voted against the LGBT community from the start, with rare exception.

Last week, Ryan told his caucus that he is flip-flopping on a major cornerstone of his tenure as Speaker. He had promised “regular order,” allowing bills to be submitted and considered without roadblocks. After a pro-LGBT bill failed, circumstances of which (see below) publicly embarrassed Ryan and the House GOP, he instituted roadblocks so Democrats will have a hard time getting bills passed.

When U.S. Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA) last month opened House Republicans’ weekly meeting with a “prayer” containing Christian Bible verses that condemn LGBT people and state they are “worthy of death,” the Speaker refused to condemn or censure him. 

SIGN: Censure Federal Lawmakers Who Use the Bible to Incite Violence or Pray for Death

Just last month Ryan supported the work of his top Republicans, McCarthy and Scalise, who colluded with at least seven Republican Congressmen to change their votes so a bill that would have codified into law President Obama’s executive orders – that had passed when the clock ran out – failed after they held the vote open. Ryan told reporters he supported their actions. 

He also opposes the Obama administration’s guidance sent to all school districts explaining how to ensure transgender children are not discriminated against.

Ryan as recently as 2013 supported DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act and supported a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. In 2012 Ryan was opposed to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” opposed to adoption of children by LGBT people, and said there was no need for hate crime laws supporting the LGBT community. He did, however, say he was in favor of a ban on workplace discrimination for LGBT people, and voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.