Alan Cumming: Backlash against LGBT rights was part of reason Trump came to power
Good Wife actor and LGBT rights activist Alan Cumming has said the US is in a “very dangerous place” on LGBT rights.
The British-born Cabaret star, who is bisexual, spoke to CBS ahead of hosting the Village Voice Pride Awards in New York.
Cumming, who is bisexual and married to husband Grant Shaffer, spoke about his fears about progress on LGBT rights under President Trump.
The actor said: “In terms of the impact around the world, people look to America — less and less now, of course, since Trump became president.
“He’s an embarrassment to America for people looking at us, but I think certainly his lack of interest in continuing the process of supporting equality in all areas is something that people will look at.”
“That obviously has an effect in America and around the world. Hate crimes against LGBT people – especially transgender people, especially against people of colour – have rocketed, and of course they would because you have someone who condones those attacks through silence.”
Cumming continued: “I just feel that when you have someone as irrational and pandering to anyone who will keep him in his place of power, that’s a very dangerous place if you’re in a minority group that recently just had a big surge in equality.
“If you think the reasons why we have Trump is a massive backlash against people of colour in the White House, it’s also a backlash against laws during [President Barack] Obama’s time and a lot of laws pertaining to the LGBT community.
“I feel obviously New York or anywhere near water in America where you have people coming from other cultures, you’re not scared or hateful of them, but there are big swathes of America that are still very fearful of the other.
“I worry about young kids who are in an environment that says if the president is a bully, then why shouldn’t you be?”
Cumming campaigned for Hillary Clinton, appearing in a music video released by the Democrats supporting her.
The actor said recently that gay people are still treated like “second-class citizens” in many countries.
He said: “I live in the world. I’m very privileged person, but there are certain things I’m aware of in certain places I go to.
“If you’re a (gay) person living in this world, you still feel like you’re a second-class citizen. Because you absolutely are. You still don’t have the same rights.”
Related: Trump’s first 100 days have been a total disaster for LGBT people
