A Republican candidate has sparked anger and mockery after releasing a video telling people not to be gay.
The short video, posted on social media, shows Missouri secretary of state hopeful Valentina Gomez speaking to the camera while jogging in a bulletproof jacket. The video contains some swearing.
"In America, you can be anything you want. So don't be weak and gay," Gomez says.
The video then flashes briefly to an image of Gomez holding a rifle and a handgun.
Gomez's post sparked fury on social media, with many responding by subverting the phrase to "be strong and gay."
A social media user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Yes, be strong and gay. And when weak people like Ms. Gomez try to make you feel weak, I'll stand strong and straight with you instead of being weak and straight and pathetic like these bigoted losers who wish they were as hot as you."
One called the message hateful, while another ridiculed Gomez for relaying her message while jogging in "hot pants and a bulletproof vest. Peak #Idiocracy achievement unlocked."
Others responded sardonically, saying the phrase was accidentally humorous.
One social media user said that as a campaign slogan it is "the funniest s*** I ever heard."
"OMG, yes, pop-off queen give us camp, we love you!!!!!" another X poster said.
Gomez responded to Newsweek's request for comment in an emailed statement.
"I have been overwhelmed with tremendous support! President Trump and I are leading the charge to take our country back from the weak and gay Biden-Harris administration that has destroyed our nation on all fronts," she said.
Some replied positively to Gomez's message and poked fun at the outrage.
"The people getting amped up in the comments is hilarious!!!!" one X user said.
"Boomers say this is cringe, but honestly it's a breath of fresh air. Also, you're talking about her—as is the entire purpose of the ad," another user wrote.
The song "The Show Goes On" by Lupe Fiasco played in the background of Gomez's video. The singer, who has in the past criticized homophobia, appeared to acknowledge Gomez's video in a tweet posted hours after its release.
"We are aware and currently taking action," his post said, which did not name the GOP candidate directly.
The Trump-supporting Gomez, 24, is one of several Republicans running to be the party's candidate for Missouri's secretary of state. The incumbent, Republican Jay Ashcroft, left the seat open after deciding to run for governor.
Gomez has previously gained attention for several viral stunts, including a video in which she burned LGBTQ+ friendly books with a flamethrower.
One of the key pledges on her website is to remove electronic voting machines and transition to universal paper-ballot hand counting, aligning with a key MAGA belief that the machines allow election fraud, despite there being no evidence to back this up.
Update 5/15/24, 10:28 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Gomez.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
