7 times Trump and his cabinet lied about their plans for LGBT rights
President Trump this week took the axe to anti-discrimination protections for transgender children – so why did he repeatedly claim to be pro-LGBT?
Yesterday Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos filed an order to scale back Obama administration protections – despite all three making assurances on the issue previously.
Trump secured his election by building a coalition including both anti-LGBT evangelicals and gay conservatives, making simultaneous promises to maintain and pare back LGBT rights.
Meanwhile, DeVos and Sessions were only confirmed by the Senate after they both made false assurances they would not target LGBT protections.
Here are seven times they lied.
Donald Trump, asked about protections for transgender people:
“North Carolina did something that was very strong, and they’re paying a big price. There’s a lot of problems.
“There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go; they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble, and the problem is the strife.”
Donald Trump, asked if he will maintain LGBT rights protections while running for the Republican nomination:
“You can [trust me to move forward]. We’re going to bring people together, and that’s your thing and other people have their thing. We have to bring all people together and if we don’t we’re not going to have a country anymore. It’s going to be a total mess.”
Donald Trump, after the Orlando massacre:
“As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens… Believe me.”
Donald Trump, on Twitter:
Jeff Sessions, asked whether he would enforce LGBT rights laws during his confirmation hearing:
“I understand the demand for justice and fairness made by our LGBT community. I will ensure that the statutes protecting their civil rights and their safety are fully enforced.”
Betsy DeVos, asked whether she would protect LGBT students during her confirmation hearing:
“Every student deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment where they can learn, achieve and thrive and are not discriminated against. Period.”
Donald Trump, in a White House statement just three weeks ago:
“President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.”
