For all their efforts to separate the T from the LGB, conservative gays are starting to realize that the enemy of your enemy is not always your friend.
Cases in point: Gay conservatives Andrew Sullivan and Katie Herzog.
Related link: Andrew Sullivan’s attack on LGBTQ activism is clueless
Sullivan, the former New Republic editor who opposed a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and who has accused “critical gender theory” of being “homophobic,” recently called out one of the conservative voices he has previously promoted.
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In response to a tweet from Christopher Rufo, a prominent critic of “critical race theory” and a fellow opponent of transgender equality, Sullivan called his erstwhile ally out for suggesting that the arrest of sex offenders who worked for Disney somehow justifies Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” law.
Sullivan replied that, while disgusting, the story had nothing to do with the debate over allowing teachers and schools to talk about LGBTQ people.
It’s disgusting, Chris. You know it. It’s irrelevant to the debate.
— Andrew Sullivan (@sullydish) April 4, 2022
But the twitterverse wasn’t about to let Sullivan off that easy. Commenters were quick to remind Sullivan that he was warned about people like Rufo but continued to elevate them anyway.
Andy, you elevated these guys. This is who you've stood side by side with. We've begged you to realize the depths of their malicious depravity. Now that you see it maybe you'll join the fight.
— Unremarkable Greg🌹🌈🎮 (@Ruggum) April 4, 2022
Others accused him of supporting racism and only putting his foot down when his own identity was on the line.
Boy are you in for a Surprise Andrew. It was all fun and games when it was just racism on the line.
— Nadia Gill (@Egypxican) April 4, 2022
Somehow, Sullivan didn’t anticipate that the people attacking transgender folks would also come for gay people.
and you help them do it sullivan! congrats on your years of work. “i didn’t expect the leopard to eat my face off too!” well guess what it did and people warned you this would happen. you refused to use sound judgement because you were so giddy to see trans folks dehumanized.
— popperoffsis (@popperoffsis) April 5, 2022
Katie Herzog, who wrote the “gender critical” piece “The Detransitioners,” has denounced the Florida law and has gotten called out for failing to see how years of legislative attacks on transgender youth led to this attack on gay and bi youth.
Sorry but I have no sympathy for someone who played a large role in selling the public on the lie that gender dysphoria was a social contagion being upset when the public decides that being gay is also a social contagion. We told you how this would go.
— Katelyn Burns (@transscribe) April 4, 2022
Herzog denied that the transphobic laws led to the homophobic law and instead said that opposition to transphobic laws was to blame for the Don’t Say Gay law.
Katelyn Burns is apparently blaming me for the spate of batshit crazy bills out of red states. Here's another theory: Trans activists pushing way beyond basic civil rights and onto vastly unpopular positions like trans women in sports and pediatric transition are to blame.
— Katie Herzog (@kittypurrzog) April 4, 2022
