Pompeo no religious martyr but possibly a homophobic disaster just waiting to happen

Mike Pompeo, Trump's Secretary of State nominee, has ties with anti-LGBTQ hate group The Family Research Council.

On Friday during a confirmation hearing, Sen. Cory Booker heavily questioned Mike Pompeo, Trump's Secretary of State nominee, on his opposition to marriage equality and his past statement that homosexuality is a perversion. Since that time, various conservative groups and individuals have been sending out opinion pieces, tweets, etc in an attempt to cast Booker as a bully and Pompeo as a victim. They are whining that Pompeo supposedly treats everyone with respect and that Booker is imposing a "religious litmus test."

It's bull. I'm sure that several so-called news program - particularly on Fox - will feature these conservative talking heads to spin their story without any correction. But that's not going to happen in this blog. In a wonderful piece published by The Advocate, Zeke Stokes, vice president of programs at GLAAD broke  it down last week why Pompeo is not a victim, but rather a homophobic disaster just waiting to happen:

Mike Pompeo consulted with FRC during his time as CIA director and has earned its endorsement and praise throughout his career; he is even a regular guest on FRC president Tony Perkins’s anti-LGBTQ radio program. 

Make no mistake: These are the advisers who would follow Mike Pompeo to the State Department if he is confirmed — something that our nation cannot afford.

What messages would it send to the world to have our top diplomat hold such close ties to anti-LGBTQ extremism that runs counter to the State Department’s stated central goal of protecting human rights? 

Being gay is still criminalized in 72 countries. Transgender people face violence and death at home and abroad merely for living their truth. We cannot afford to move backwards on LGBTQ rights when so much is at stake. 

We are currently facing deeply troubling times with anti-LGBTQ state violence and discrimination. Authorities in Chechnya have detained and attacked over 100 LGBTQ citizens because of their perceived sexual orientation and 27 men have reportedly been killed by Chechen government officials. At least 141 people were arrested in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta during a May 2017 raid that was part of a county-wide anti-LGBTQ crackdown. In Azerbaijan, police carried out mass arrests of as many as 100 LGBTQ people. 

Similar crises are happening in Egypt, Russia, Ghana, Bangladesh, and beyond. In these deeply troubling times, our country needs a secretary of State who can address these human rights violations with good faith and credibility, two qualities Mike Pompeo has long since lost.

The entire piece is worth your time to read and Stokes is a guest worth booking on news shows when there are debates about Pompeo's credentials. It's not accidental that he probably won't be booked.