Former Trump official Anthony Scaramucci: I’m a gay rights activist
Anthony Scaramucci, who served a ten-day term as Donald Trump’s Communications Director, has insisted he’s a “gay rights activist”.
The wealthy financier came to prominence last month when he was appointed and then later dismissed as White House Communications Director.
But The Mooch has insisted he was “misrepresented” by the media during his time under Trump.
Speaking to TMZ, he said: “I have, for the last decade, been an active gay rights and marriage equality supporter, particularly here in New York City but [also] around the world.
“I think that when they wrote ‘life, liberty , and the pursuit of happiness’, it wasn’t just meant for straight people. For me, I’m a very active gay rights supporter.
“In addition to that, even though I’m a Roman Catholic and I believe in a right to life, I would never impose those values on other people.
“I’m actually very socially inclusive as a human being, and I’m a Republican because I believe that you need free market principles to create class mobility.”
Asked if the President shared his views, Scaramucci said: “I can’t speak for him. I can only speak for myself.”
During his time in the White House, Scaramucci gained notoriety as a hothead after telling a journalist that White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was “trying to suck his own c**k”.
We’re not too sure how being a ‘gay rights’ activist gels with getting into bed with the Trump administration as officials argued against discrimination protections for gay people.
While Scaramucci was serving under Trump, the Justice Department filed a legal brief arguing against legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The move, in court papers filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, confirmed a U-turn from the Obama administration, which had often used amicus briefs to intervene in court cases in favour of LGBT rights protections.
The Trump-era Justice Department instead intervened in a discrimination case to argue that civil rights laws should not protect gay workers from discrimination.
The department, led by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, argued that the 1964 Civil Rights Act – which outlaws discrimination based on a number of characteristics – does not provide any protections for gay people, despite outlawing sex-based discrimination.
Before Trump came to power, Scaramucci claimed he would “be the first American president in US history that enters the White House with a pro-gay rights stance.”
He had claimed: “Elton John is going to be doing our concert on the mall for the inauguration!”
A representative for Sir Elton shut down the official, confirming: “Elton will not be performing at Trump’s inauguration.”
