Ruben Gallego, a first-year senator from Arizona, is facing intense scrutiny after leaked text messages appeared to show Democrats mocking the appearance of women and men within his own party. The comments reflect far-right rhetoric on gender and deepen concerns about his recent changes in position on LGBTQ+ issues.
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In a message first disseminated by conservative news outlets, reported by people Gallego, who began his first term in the Senate in January after previously serving in the House, complained last week that Democrats “don’t allow men to be men” or “women to be sexy,” writing that “Democratic women look like Democratic men and Democratic men look like women.” He also lamented that the Democratic Party has become a “no-fun party” and no longer represents “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.”
Related: Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego embraces anti-trans, far-right talking points
He made some of those comments after receiving a meme that included an image of 82-year-old Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a fellow Democrat.
The remarks came amid escalating political and legislative hostility toward transgender Americans. As independent bisexual Sen. Krysten Sinema, the Democratic senator who replaces bisexual Sen. Krysten Sinema, sees the Democratic senator using the same gender policy language deployed by anti-trans critics, advocates are wary that the rhetoric legitimizes a discourse that treats gender nonconformity as a cultural flaw rather than a civil rights issue, writes independent journalist Erin Reed in her Substack. Newsletter Erin in the morning.
The revelations about his writing also come after months of campaigning in which Gallego previously distanced himself from his support for transgender rights. In May, defender Gallego reports that he said concerns about transgender girls in sports are “legitimate,” and LGBTQ+ organizations have warned that the changes will enable discriminatory policymaking. He later voted in favor of a national defense bill that included a ban on gender reassignment surgery for military personnel.
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in interview In an interview with local ABC affiliate KNXV last week, Gallego confirmed the authenticity of the leaked texts and said he was “heartbroken” that his longtime friend shared them. But he did not retreat from the content. “I think we have to be an open, big tent party,” he said, arguing that Democrats “are not that inclusive.” [they] “We should” and “We should expand the tent to accommodate more people.”
He added that the statement “reflects everything I’ve said.”
What remains unanswered is how mocking the Democratic Party’s appeal or implying that the party’s struggles stem from a lack of femininity or masculinity squares with calls for more inclusivity.
Gallego’s office did not respond. defenderThis is a comment request from .
Just weeks before the leak, Gallego appeared in a 30-minute on-stage conversation with Jon Lovett at Crooked Media’s inaugural Crooked Con in Washington, D.C., in which the senator argued that Democrats need to communicate more directly with working-class voters. He described his approach to helping people live “rich and fulfilling lives” by emphasizing stability, dignity and authenticity. He called on Democrats to demonstrate cultural fluency and be more confident in taking risks throughout their communities, from lowrider shows to suburban pickleball courts.
“If we’re more liked than the other team, we’re going to win,” Gallego told Lovett.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
