Who is Kevin McCarthy? Where does he stand on LGBTQ+ issues?

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has a long career as a 21st-century congressional leader. But while he repeatedly makes headlines for his dealings with the House’s combative far-right Republican caucus, he has continually marched in line with his party’s anti-LGBTQ+ politics.

Kevin McCarthy at a glance

• Location: Bakersfield, California
• Party Affiliation: Republican
• Race/Ethnicity: Irish-American
• Gender Identity: Male
• Sexual Orientation: Straight
• Pronouns: He/Him
• LGBTQ+ Ally: No

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• Website: McCarthyForCongress.com

Biography

Born in Bakersfield, California on January 26, 1965, McCarthy used a $5,000 lottery prize to open Kevin O’s Delicatessen in the corner of his uncle’s frozen yogurt shop in 1984. He sold the deli in 1987 and used the sale profits to enroll in the University of California-Bakersfield.

He graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1989 and a Master of Business Administration in 1994. He served as the chair of the California Young Republicans in 1995, as chair of the Young Republican National Federation from 1999 to 2001, and on the staff of U.S. Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) from 1987 to 2002.

He was elected to serve on the California State Assembly in 2002 and elected to the U.S. House in 2006. His Republican colleagues elected him as Chief Deputy Whip, a position he served in from 2009 to 2011. He served as the House Majority Whip from 2011 to 2014, House Majority Leader from 2014 to 2019, House Minority Leader from 2019 to 2023, and was elected House Speaker in 2023.

He married his wife, Judy, in 1992. They had two children together.

McCarthy’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues

While McCarthy has been somewhat tight-lipped on his personal beliefs, his legislative record makes his anti-LGBTQ+ politics quite clear.

Same-sex marriage

In 2011, McCarthy and other congressional Republicans wanted to defend the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, in a case involving a widow who was denied spousal financial benefits owed to her by a law firm following the death of her spouse.

In a statement at the time, McCarthy wrote, “[DOMA] was passed with bipartisan support over 15 years ago and is the law of the land. When federal laws are the subject of a federal lawsuit, the Department of Justice typically defends those laws in court. Unfortunately, Attorney General Holder and the Obama Administration have chosen to walk out on their responsibility, and the House has stepped in. Regardless of personal opinion, we cannot pick and choose which laws to support. They are the law and we must defend the law.”

When the case reached the Supreme Court in 2013, he joined then-Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in an amicus brief supporting DOMA. When questioned in September 2021 about his feelings on same-sex marriage, he said, “Look, same-sex marriage is the law of the land, and it’s what America holds and that’s the law of the land” — hardly a ringing endorsement.

In December 2022, he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, a federal law that requires the U.S. and state governments to officially recognize legal same-sex marriages.

Trans children in sports

In April 2023, McCarthy voted for the so-called “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” a law that would change the definition of sex in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to one “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The law would effectively ban trans athletes from playing on school sports teams matching their gender identity nationwide, even though many states allow trans athletes to do so.

Speaking outside of the U.S. Capitol after the act was passed by House Republicans in a party-line vote, McCarthy said, “This is a great day for America, and a great day for girls and women, and for fairness in sports.”

Leading up to the bill’s introduction, McCarthy hosted a June 2022 roundtable discussion with athletes who competed against trans competitors. During this, he warned that girls and women are facing an “existential threat from radical [activists].”

Transgender access to public bathrooms

In March 2023, McCarthy voted for and spoke in favor of the so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights Act.” The bill would’ve required schools to report when trans girls were allowed to use girls’ restrooms or locker rooms. The bill also would’ve required schools to notify parents when elementary and middle school students ask to change their gender designation, pronouns, or name; potentially outing trans kids to their unsupportive parents.

He made the legislation part of his 2022 election pitch to voters, and has said of it, “Democrats are too extreme to believe that parents should have a say [in their children’s education.]”

Don’t say gay/LGBTQ+ discussions in schools

In March 2023, McCarthy voted for and spoke in favor of the so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights Act.” The bill would’ve required schools to publish course studies and a list of books kept in libraries. It also would’ve affirmed the rights of parents to meet with educators, speak at school board meetings, and examine school budgets.

The law was fashioned somewhat off of the 2021 election platform of Virginia Gov. Glenn Yougkin (R), whose advocacy for so-called “parents’ rights” in education led to violent school board meetings filled with angry anti-LGBTQ+ protesters who claimed their children were being “groomed” and “indoctrinated” with LGBTQ+- and racially-inclusive classroom instruction. Such claims have led to harassment and death threats against students and educators.

Discrimination protections

McCarthy opposed the Equality Act, federal legislation that would update existing federal civil rights legislation to explicitly ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in a number of areas, including employment, education, access to credit, housing, and public accommodations.

He has also opposed the LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act as well as the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act. The first law would require businesses to include information on sexual orientation and gender identity in mandatory business reports filed with the government. The second law would require the federal government to collect demographic data on LGBTQI+ populations.

McCarthy’s career

• Founded Kevin O’s Delicatessen in 1984. Sold in 1987.
• Graduated from University of California-Bakersfield with B.S. in marketing in 1989
• Graduated from University of California-Bakersfield with M.B.A. in 1994
• Served as chair of California Young Republicans in 1995
• Served as chair of as chair of Young Republican National Federation from 1999 to 2001
• Served on staff of U.S. Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) from 1987 to 2002
• Elected to California State Assembly in 2002
• Elected to U.S. House in 2006
• Served as Republican Chief Deputy Whip from 2009 to 2011
• Served as House Majority Whip from 2011 to 2014
• Served as House Majority Leader from 2014 to 2019
• Served as House Minority Leader from 2019 to 2023
• Elected as House Speaker, after 14 failed votes, in 2023

In conclusion

McCarthy has willingly endorsed his party’s anti-LGBTQ+ stances and shows no signs of deviating from its discriminatory platform and orthodoxy.

Stay informed about his career by subscribing to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter.

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