Donald Trump holds an LGBT+ Pride flag given to him by supporter. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
An “old-fashioned Democrat” has claimed that calling Donald Trump homophobic, misogynistic, xenophobic or racist is “as offensive as the n word”.
In a letter to the editor of Southern Maryland News, the “old-fashioned ‘America first’ Democrat” wrote that they were “offended by opponents of the president wanting the economy of our country to fail for political advantage”.
They continued: “I am disappointed in the media giving celebrities a platform to constantly accuse the president of being a misogynist or homophobic or xenophobic or racist person; to exacerbate the hatred and division in our great country, I am finding the use of those words as offensive as the n word.
“I dislike my Democratic leaders hatred of the president and their apparent support of these spiteful individuals.
“Our media even suggests that the president’s use of ‘Chinese virus’ is xenophobic while the Chinese government’s state propaganda is blaming the USA as the cause of the Wuhan coronavirus. During WWII that would be treason.”
They did not leave their name, but simply signed off: “God bless America.”
However, calling Trump homophobic is not exactly a stretch, as the US leader has consistently worked to dismantle LGBT+ rights throughout his presidency.
The Trump administration has banned transgender people from serving in the military, actively supported discrimination against LGBT+ people in employment, services and healthcare and erased LGBT+ resources, data and language from government websites.
Last month, Trump’s Republican Party announced that it would be leaving its 2016 party platform unchanged, meaning that the GOP will continue to officially support the reversal of marriage equality.
On June 12, the fourth anniversary of the Pulse massacre, the Trump administration cruelly erased precious healthcare protections for trans patients.
The White House also failed to officially recognise Pride Month for yet another year, in contrast to the Obama administration.
While Joe Biden’s comprehensive LGBT+ policy plan has won him plaudits from campaigners, Trump’s re-election campaign has published no policies whatsoever on LGBT+ issues – though he is raising funds by selling rainbow ‘Make America Great Again’ t-shirts.