Almost No GOP Senator or Congressman Mentioned LGBT Community After Terrorism At Orlando Gay Club
On Day Gays Were Targeted for Death Very Few Republican U.S. Senators or Congressmen Even Mention LGBT Community
Almost no national Republican lawmaker, as far as NCRM has found, could bring themselves to offer condolences to the LGBT community, which was the target of the nation’s deadliest mass shooting and terror attack since 9/11. A terrorist shot to death 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, and injured another 53 people, very early Sunday morning.
One of the few NCRM could find who even mentioned LGBT people, surprisingly, was Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who spoke directly to Buzzfeed’s Dominic Holden:
.@marcorubio “In addition to killing Americans he wanted to kill LGBT Americans…I’m convinced that was part of it” pic.twitter.com/sgDqKnfXd0
— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) June 12, 2016
Here are some responses to the attack from other Republicans:
Most powerful Republican in America, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan:
We pray for those brutally attacked in Orlando. While we must learn more about the attacker, the victims & families will not be forgotten.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 12, 2016
He later tweeted a longer statement, still no mention of the victims being targeted because they were LGBT:
My statement on the Orlando terrorist attack: pic.twitter.com/tiJX2yysK1
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 12, 2016
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell:
My statement on the #Orlando shooting: “The nation’s prayers are with the victims and their families…†pic.twitter.com/RrvnUScq43
— Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) June 12, 2016
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), who has a gay son:
Praying for the victims and families of this horrific terror attack in Orlando #PrayforOrlando
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) June 12, 2016
Just one hour ago on Facebook Portman almost mentioned LGBT people in a Facebook post:
Jane and I extend our condolences to the victims and the families impacted by this horrific attack in Orlando. Violence…
Posted by Senator Rob Portman on Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), nothing about LGBT people:Â
Horrific and tragic news out of Orlando, Florida. Kelley and I join the rest of the nation in praying for the victims.
— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 12, 2016Â
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), nothing about LGBT people:
My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of those killed in last night’s horrific act of terror. — Sen. Alexander
— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) June 12, 2016
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), nothing about LGBT people:
“My heart goes out to the victims of this horrific attack and their families, those who were injured, and the brave first responders who saved lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the Orlando community in the wake of this terrible tragedy.”
EARLIER:Â Orlando Terror Mass Shooting: City Begins to Release Names of Victims
Sen. John Barasso (R-WY), again, nothing:
Our hearts go out to Orlando today. Our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.
— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) June 12, 2016
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), absolutely nothing:
My statement on the Orlando shooting: pic.twitter.com/GNOLK0Cjui
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) June 12, 2016
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) didn’t even release a statement, or post on social media at all, completely ignoring the terror attack, as if it didn’t even happen.
Senator Tim Scott, Republican of South Carolina, whose own state just a year ago experience horrific tragedy when a terrorist targeted nine Christians at a Bible study, posted six tweets, no mention of the victims today being LGBT:
My prayers are with the victims and their families following this morning’s horrific attack in Orlando. ðŸ™ðŸ¿ðŸ™ðŸ¿ðŸ™ðŸ¿
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) June 12, 2016
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), no mention of the LGBT victims:
Our prayers are w/ all impacted by horrific massacre in #Orlando – we must remain steadfast in rooting out terror https://t.co/JctMCwmDwb
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) June 12, 2016
Senator Ted Cruz issued an extensive statement, attempting to “unite” Democrats and Republicans “to come together, abandon political correctness, and unite in defeating radical Islamic terrorism.”
“ISIS doesn’t just target soldiers. They don’t just target Republicans. Or Jews,” Cruz wrote. “They also target Christians and fellow Muslims. They target each and every one of us. As we saw this morning, they target the gay and lesbian community. Their objective, which they broadcast worldwide, is to murder or forcibly convert every single American.”
Hardly supportive.
Few Florida GOP U.S. Congressmen mentioned the LGBT community.
One who did: Rep. Carlos Curbelo:
https://www.facebook.com/RepCurbelo/posts/1044495422294649
Rep. David Jolly mentioned the name of the nightclub:
We join together today as a nation to pray for the Orlando victims and their loved ones. 1/2 #PulseNightclub
— David Jolly (@USRepDavidJolly) June 12, 2016
Some of Congress’ more anti-LGBT Representatives, including Florida’s Rep. Ted Yoho, couldn’t even bring themselves to issue any statement at all, not even a tweet.
And finally, Donald Trump did this.
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EARLIER:
Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders Issue Statements Condemning Orlando Terror Attack and Mass Shooting
President Obama: Orlando Shooting ‘An Act of Terror and an Act of Hate’ (Video)
Breaking: Florida Mass Shooting Terror Suspect Called 911 to Claim Allegiance to ISIS
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