LGBT activists wasted no time in attacking President Donald Trump’s new pick to run the State Department, CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
“Mike Pompeo’s longstanding opposition to LGBTQ equality makes him a reckless choice to lead our nation’s diplomatic efforts,” Chad Griffin, president of the LGBT group Human Rights Campaign (HRC), said in a statement Tuesday.
“The decision to nominate anti-LGBTQ Mike Pompeo could have serious consequences for the United States and LGBTQ people around the globe. The State Department has a crucial role to play in advancing human rights — a role which was already rapidly declining under Tillerson. This decision has the potential to make a dire situation even worse. Pompeo does not deserve to be confirmed,” Griffin declared.
Mike Pompeo’s longstanding opposition to #LGBTQ equality makes him a reckless choice to lead our nation’s diplomatic efforts. https://t.co/SLFeOUzY5F
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 13, 2018
In a morning briefing about the day’s breaking news, HRC listed Pompeo’s sins against the LGBT movement. “Pompeo’s attacks on LGBTQ equality is long and well-documented: he opposes marriage equality, and, as a member of Congress, co-sponsored efforts to allow states to not recognize same-sex marriage and to allow nonprofit businesses and organizations using taxpayer dollars a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people,” the organization said.
“Equally as troubling, his political career has been funded by anti-LGBTQ hate groups, including the Family Research Council,” HRC’s update concluded.
GLAAD (formerly the “Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), another LGBT group, also blasted Pompeo, listing his sins on a resource page. Here is an excerpt, including the entire section about Pompeo’s tenure as CIA director:
As CIA Director
— 9.8.17 – Reporting reveals CIA Director Mike Pompeo canceled a planned speech at the CIA about diversity and LGBTQ rights set to be given by Judy and Dennis Shepard, founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
— 8.27.17 – Reporting reveals CIA Director Mike Pompeo consulted with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, an anti-LGBTQ hate group.
Prior to Service
— Opposed repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, suggesting that “when you enter the army you give up a few of your rights.” Also said of DADT repeal, “we cannot use military to promote social ideas that do not reflect the values of our nation.”
— Decried the US Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling granting marriage equality to all fifty states as “a shocking abuse of power” that “flies in the face of centuries of shared understanding of our Constitution.”
— Has vowed to continue his fight abortion, marriage equality, and related matters “each and every day”: “As a Kansan, I hold a deep reverence for the sanctity of life, the solidarity of family, and the solemnity of marriage. I will continue the fight to uphold these fundamental ideals each and every day. I am, and always will be, pro-life and will defend life from conception to natural death. I will continue to oppose any taxpayer funding for abortion. I also fully support the traditional institution of marriage. Strong families are the most important building block of our Republic, and we must preserve them for the sake of our community and our culture.”
Using this page, various Leftists have slammed Pompeo. Interestingly, some contrasted Pompeo’s record with that of Tillerson. “Mike Pompeo is fervently anti-gay. Tillerson kept the LGBT envoy, acknowledged Pride Month, and maintained funding for some LGBT programs. I suspect Pompeo will reverse all of that,” tweeted Slate writer Mark Joseph Stern.
Mike Pompeo is fervently anti-gay. Tillerson kept the LGBT envoy, acknowledged Pride Month, and maintained funding for some LGBT programs. I suspect Pompeo will reverse all of that. https://t.co/uUi9cZIu45
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) March 13, 2018
Chris Johnson, White House reporter for the LGBT paper The Washington Blade, also contrasted Pompeo and Tillerson. “Mike Pompeo opposed same-sex marriage as member of Congess,” Johnson tweeted. “Will be interesting to see if he continues Tillerson’s practices at State of keeping an LGBT envoy, issuing a Pride proclamation.”
Mike Pompeo opposed same-sex marriage as member of Congress. Will be interesting to see if he continues Tillerson's practices at State of keeping an LGBT envoy, issuing a Pride proclamation.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) March 13, 2018
Others attacked Tillerson, as well, however. “Like Tillerson, Pompeo is problematic for the LGBTQ community in the U.S. and globally,” former Obama staffer and Teach For America communications staffer Vinnie Amendolare tweeted. “From Congress to the CIA, Pompeo has taken anti-LGBT stances and made his prejudiced views very clear.”
Like Tillerson, Pompeo is problematic for the #LGBTQ community in the U.S. and globally. From Congress to the CIA, Pompeo has taken anti-#LGBT stances and made his prejudiced views very clear.
— Vinnie Amendolare (@MrVAmen) March 13, 2018
Attacks on Tillerson’s LGBT record seem rather peculiar, as the former ExxonMobil CEO pushed the Boy Scouts of America to welcome openly gay leaders. Indeed, the Family Research Council opposed Tillerson’s appointment for this reason.
As for Pompeo, many of his causes championed religious freedom, allowing individuals and states to opt out of the 2015 Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges, which practically invented a “right” to same-sex marriage.
While Pompeo would likely separate the State Department from full LGBT advocacy, it is likely he would continue to mark events like Transgender Remembrance Day, a day dedicated to those who were attacked and killed for their identity. He also would likely defend the lives of LGBT people under assault in various countries. Just because Pompeo disagrees with the LGBT lifestyle and advocates for the freedom to disagree does not mean he supports the absolute repression of LGBT people in foreign countries.
GLAAD’s naked advocacy for abortion in attacking Pompeo also should stand as a reminder that the LGBT movement does not just advocate for equal treatment, but for the whole umbrella of Leftist causes.
Both HRC and GLAAD slammed Pompeo for his connections to the Family Research Council (FRC), an organization branded as an “anti-LGBT hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Both organizations conveniently omitted the fact that an SPLC “hate map” plotting FRC’s location in Washington, D.C. inspired a terrorist attack against the organization in 2012.
The SPLC faces multiple lawsuits for defamation — one from a Muslim reformer who was branded an “anti-Muslim extremist” because he went to a strip club for his bachelor party. The organization has admitted its list of “hate groups” is based on “opinion,” and in branding the Ruth Institute a “hate group,” the SPLC actually quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
As if this were not enough, the SPLC marked schools on a map of Confederate monuments, including even a Stonewall Elementary School which was named after a stone wall, not Stonewall Jackson. The group also marked the innocent town of Amana Colonies on its “hate map.”
HRC and GLAAD might want to think twice before echoing the SPLC’s “hate group” designation, and basing a full half of their attacks on Pompeo’s term as CIA director on his connection with FRC.
The Family Research Council did not provide a statement about this issue by press time. This story will be updated with their response.
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