Anti-LGBTQ U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) received so much backlash for his tweet about the Club Q shooting that he turned off responses.
On Saturday night, a gunman opened fire inside the LGBTQ bar – located in Colorado Springs, which is in Lamborn’s district – killing five people and injuring 18.
In response, Lamborn tweeted, “I am saddened to hear of the senseless loss of life in the shooting last night. Law enforcement and first responders are to be commended for their rapid response. All people should pray for the victims and their families.”
I am saddened to hear of the senseless loss of life in the shooting last night. Law enforcement and first responders are to be commended for their rapid response.
All people should pray for the victims and their families.
— Rep. Doug Lamborn (@RepDLamborn) November 20, 2022
Writing for The New Civil Rights Movement, journalist David Badash called it “a tweet so generic it could be used for any shooting that takes place any night of the week anywhere in the country.”
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Lamborn — who was just re-elected with 56 percent of the vote — opposes same-sex marriage, supports anti-LGBTQ people discrimination, and recently introduced the so-called “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” a national bill that would ban LGBTQ identities from classrooms. He has previously called to end funding for PBS over a gay cartoon rat and a queer celeb appearing on Sesame Street.
Lamborn also received a score of 0 on the Human Rights Campaign Congressional Scorecard that measures federal lawmakers’ support for equality.
Many who responded to his tweet were livid and accused him of helping spread the rhetoric that leads to this kind of anti-LGBTQ violence.
They also reminded him that it was not law enforcement who stopped the shooter, but rather two heroic patrons inside the bar.
This is who represents Colorado Springs. He issues a generic tweet that praises…law enforcement. It was two gay customers who took down the gunman. He is a co-sponsor of anti-trans legislation and Christian nationalist. He isn’t sad at all. Turned off replies like a coward. https://t.co/500rS4uC38
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) November 21, 2022
The brutal murders and injuries against LBGTQ residents of Colorado may be a direct result of your rhetoric @RepDLamborn!! You do NOT belong in office. https://t.co/RAbOwj9GS7
— Laurie❄️ (@Laurieluvsmolly) November 20, 2022
good try doug! it was actually 2 customers of the club that stopped the shooter. also pretty cool that even lauren boebert directly says she's praying for the victims and you can't manage that. what do you represent exactly? cause it's obviously not the people in colorado springs
— the blasto (rat very fied) 🐀 (@blastomisty) November 20, 2022
He also voted against the Respect for Marriage Act and is a cosponsor of Marjorie Taylor Greene's nationwide ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth
— Gillian Branstetter (@GBBranstetter) November 20, 2022
Prayers do absolutely nothing! & how about thanking the two brave souls who were inside the club & risked their own lives subduing the shooter while he was in the act of shooting? They deserve all the thanks!
— Bass Player (@milhaus64) November 20, 2022
Police didn't stop the shooter. People in the club did. And you've done nothing to prevent the loss of lives within your district. Take action, or shut up.
— Philip "Definitely Parody" Krogmeier (@flipwriter) November 20, 2022
You are part of the problem. It's your supporters who are committing these types of crimes. Don't tell us your saddened when you ran on a platform of hate.
— Raygina (@Raygina80) November 20, 2022
Two days after his original statement, Lamborn released another, more official one on Twitter, this time with commenting turned off from the start.
The new statement is only slightly less generic than the last – it includes the names of the five people who were killed in the attack – and still does not mention the fact that the shooting took place at an LGBTQ bar.
— Rep. Doug Lamborn (@RepDLamborn) November 22, 2022
Editor’s Note: This article originally stated that Lamborn was elected by a margin of 56%. It has been updated to reflect that he was elected with 56% of the vote.
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