How it started:
This story is rock solid. Matt Schlapp accused of groping a male staffer on Herschel Walker's campaign -- and the campaign offered "nothing but support" for the staffer at the time.
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) January 6, 2023
Schlapp has allowed the most horrific anti-LGBTQ bile at CPAC. Another GOP hypocrite. https://t.co/LNQE5aAWtF
For one thing, if the story turns out to be true, it is a case of sexual assault. And sexual assault is not funny. And for another thing, no matter how it is seemingly another case of Republicans not practicing what they preach, LGBTQ people need not be so jaded that we waste the opportunity to get rightfully pissed.
As illustrated by the tweets put out by Schlapp's wife from 2022, Republicans have been exploiting the lie that LGBTQ people are "grooming" kids. And that companies, such as Disney, have been helping in this effort. The LGBTQ community have had to endure stuff like this all last year.
Our people have been physically threatened and murdered,
Drag shows have been disrupted by white supremacists,
People have lost their jobs because distorted videos and lies amplified in far-right circles,
Legislation has been pushed and passed undermining trans people - especially trans kids - getting their basic healthcare and even existing in accordance to their truths,
Children's hospitals have been besieged with bomb threats simply for providing trans kids with basic health care
Last but not least, there is now an entire cottage industry of phony children's advocates, detransitioners, fake citizen journalists, distorted videographers, and assorted grifters spinning lie after lie about us in a craven attempt to get on Fox News, elevate their brand, or sell their dime-store swag.
And it turns out that we aren't the bad guys at all. We aren't the ones attempting to "lure" children and we aren't the ones placing our hands where they aren't wanted or "pummeling" private parts.
How many of those righteous crusaders in the Republican party are out there doing what Schlapp has been accused of doing? How long will America accept grubby, no-talent opportunists like the Schlapps or any other right-wing pundits repeating empty talking points and pointing fingers at marginalized people while hoping that people ignore the three other fingers pointing back at them?
Why are we silently justifying their possible hypocrisy and attempts to turn gaslight the situation, like the tweet below sent out by Schlapps's group, CPAC:
Sorry guys, but you simply can't blame the "left" for this one. This is a scandal which came from a young man from Herschel Walker's senatorial campaign. The campaign was informed of the situation the day after it happened and confirmed that it took steps to keep the young man away from Schlapp.
Of course I guess that means that Republicans will now be claiming that the Herschel Walker campaign is from the "left."