In what is perhaps the plot twist of the century, the Trump Campaign will be holding a Pride event in Tampa tomorrow.
The event is hosted by President Trump’s fourth daughter, Tiffany, and former U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell.
”President Donald J. Trump is the only President to openly support the LGBT community since his first day in office,” The Trump Pride website writes. “TRUMP PRIDE is a diverse coalition dedicated to re-electing President Trump, the first President to begin his presidency in support of marriage equality.”
The event will be held at the Westshore Grand Hotel at 3:30 p.m.
It’s unclear what exactly the event will entail, but a previous Trump Pride event in Arizona featured a round-table discussion with local leaders and members of the Trump Pride advisory board. It is also unclear whether attendees will be asked to practice social distancing or wear masks.
In June, Grenell, a Trump loyalist who is openly gay, resigned after little more than two years in the job as ambassador. In February, foreignpolicy.com wrote that "several of Grenell’s former colleagues see him as a poor fit for the role," adding that "he’d make a better propaganda minister than an impartial sounding board for the president on intelligence matters or a steward of the nation’s most sensitive secrets."
So happy to be hosting this event with @RichardGrenell #Pride #TrumpPride RSVP: https://t.co/iO111kuL2D pic.twitter.com/WzEW3CuP4Q
— Tiffany Ariana Trump (@TiffanyATrump) October 16, 2020
“By registering for this event, you understand and expressly acknowledge that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” reads the registration page.
The event will happen just a couple days after Tiffany Trump was spotted partying in Miami, one of Florida’s major COVID-19 hotspots. The partying streak was in celebration of her 27th birthday, but the tonedeaf nature and lack of masks actually caused the hashtag #ByeTiffany to trend on Twitter.
The Trump Administration has been criticized for its treatment of the LGBTQ community over the past four years. This includes the opposition to the Equality Act, the appointment of anti-LGBTQ justices and the banning of transgender individuals from the military.
Pride parades all over the country were cancelled during Pride Month in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump Campaign is hosting this event in Tampa only a couple weeks after the president himself tested positive for the coronavirus.
On the day of the event, Equality Florida Action, Inc.—the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in Florida—condemned "attempts by the Trump campaign to disguise their abhorrent record on LGBTQ issues by holding a spate of desperate last minute 'Trump Pride' events."
“Donald Trump is the worst President the LGBTQ community has ever seen,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida Action, Inc. “This event is a pathetic attempt to hide his appalling record and it’s fooling no-one. We are tired of Trump’s lies and our community understands a second term would be devastating.”
In a mailer, Equality Florida spotlighted "the relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community by the Trump administration that include:"
- Repealed Obama-Biden era protections for vulnerable LGBTQ youth
- Has discharged and banned transgender military service members
- Opposes federal laws to protect the LGBTQ community and wants to give businesses the “right to discriminate”
- Is packing the Supreme Court with justices who could overthrow Marriage Equality
- Blocked LGBTQ asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution
UPDATED: 10/20/20 2:15 p.m. Updated with a statement from Equality Florida.
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