Today is the two-month anniversary of the Orlando massacre, the worst anti-LGBTQ hate crime in United States history. Today, Marco Rubio delivered the keynote speech at an extremist anti-LGBTQ event in Orlando.
Rubio is being praised by the non-LGBTQ liberal community for urging his fellow conservatives not to hate LGBTQ people and discussing anti-LGBTQ discrimination in his speech, but he still spoke out against LGBTQ equality and denounced people who criticize him for opposing marriage equality.
Similarly, he was praised by the non-LGBTQ liberal community after the Orlando massacre for addressing the fact that the “gay community was targeted.” However, rather than actually supporting the LGBTQ community, Rubio, like many other Republicans, used the tragedy as an opportunity to bash Muslims.
TIMELINE: Rubio's COMPLETE disregard for LGBT community since Pulse shooting #ForThe49 @equalityfl pic.twitter.com/lfc3ddfnhi
— For Our Future FL (@ForOurFutureFL) August 11, 2016
Rubio claimed that the massacre inspired him to run for re-election, but again, he has not actually changed any of his positions on LGBTQ rights, meaning that he is still one of the most prominent anti-LGBTQ Congressmen in the country. As evidenced by his choice to speak at today’s event, he is still courting some of the most extreme anti-LGBTQ organizers in the country.
“We should recognize that even as we stand firm in the belief that marriage is the union between one man and one woman, there are those in that community in same-sex relationships whose love for one another is real and feel angry and humiliated that the law did not recognize their relationship as a marriage.
To love our neighbors we must recognize that many have experienced — sometimes — severe condemnation and judgment from some Christians.”
Rubio failed to mention that he is one of those Christians. He wants to reverse the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision by appointing anti-LGBTQ judges to the Supreme Court, reverse all of President Barack Obama’s pro-LGBTQ executive orders, legalize anti-LGBTQ discrimination, prevent transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, and ban same-sex adoption.
Equality Florida and other LGBTQ advocates protested Marco Rubio and the anti-LGBTQ conference today. Equality Florida co-founder Nadine Smith said:
“Rubio wants to invoke the names of the victims to deflect criticism of him sharing the stage with notorious bigots. He used this platform to gin up anti-Muslim hatred while opposing the most basic LGBT protections and gun safety measures that have been shown to dramatically reduce gun deaths.
His statement at today’s extremist conference was tone-deaf and spineless, and we do not need his hollow thoughts and prayers. His cruel actions, not his pandering words, define his character.”
Shame on Rubio and Trump for attending anti-LGBT conference in Orlando on 2-month anniversary of #Pulse. #ForThe49 pic.twitter.com/Uy5lCjUhyU
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) August 11, 2016
Marco Rubio is currently running for re-election against Democrat Patrick Murphy. Though Rubio is leading in the polls, the Florida Senate race is still considered too close to call.
While Rubio was attending the anti-LGBTQ conference, Patrick Murphy tweeted:
