On Tuesday evening, House Republicans created a gif of comedian/Hitflix writer Louis Virtel’s much-touted Jeopardy! appearance — in order to publicize their own Snapchat coverage of the State of the Union address.
The GIF loops the moment when Virtel tackles a Double Jeopardy! challenge about Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, and the words “SNAP OF THE UNION” are emblazoned over the footage.
Virtel, understandably chagrined to find himself suddenly a mascot for the GOP, tweeted:
“Hey, GOP! Your candidates are horrifying garbage who’ve done nothing for LGBT rights. Don’t use my image. I think every day about closeted gay kids who want to kill themselves because their parents are ignorant, fearful Republicans. The reason people liked my snap was because it defied regressive, homophobic, scary-ass losers like you.”
Hey, GOP! Your candidates are horrifying garbage who’ve done nothing for LGBT rights. Don’t use my image. https://t.co/N1zddPOeZR
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) January 12, 2016
@GOP I think every day about closeted gay kids who want to kill themselves because their parents are ignorant, fearful Republicans.
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) January 12, 2016
Dear @GOP: The reason people liked my snap was because it defied regressive, homophobic, scary-ass losers like you. https://t.co/N1zddPOeZR
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) January 12, 2016
He also told Slate:
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As a gay guy who is protective and militantly proud of his gayness, it’s both hilarious and borderline traumatizing to see the GOP mistake my energy for something in line with their ideals. Like many longtime out-and-proud gay guys from the Midwest, I’ve known plenty of closeted folks who are terrified of coming out. They all have one thing in common: Their parents are staunch Republicans. The GOP as it stands is a regressive and terrifying threat to LGBT Americans, and if the GOP can’t see that a gay guy on Jeopardy! wouldn’t want to be associated with them, it’s only further proof of their brutal ignorance.
Watch the original scene below:
