Controversy and debate surround the recently discovered photograph, allegedly featuring JD Vance – the Republican vice presidential nominee – dressed as a drag queen at Yale Law School. The image went viral within hours of its release and poses a sharp contrast to Vance’s widely known position on LGBTQ matters. Hence, it questions hypocrisy and authenticity within political discourse.
The picture and its sources
Travis Whitfill is Vance’s classmate at Yale who brought out this photo claiming that during 2012 Halloween party, this shot was made. He shared it via friends with Matt Bernstein, podcast host, an Assistant Professor Adjunct in Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine. Matt later posted it on his social media handles leading to more distribution of the image.
In his social media post Bernstein sarcastically said “I would also want to ban drag if I were unable to serve,” alluding that Vance has been opposing rights of LGBTQs in public but not supporting them in private life. It originated from a group chat among former classmates of Vance but there is no confirmation or denial from camp thus making it a matter for public speculation regarding whether it is authentic or what meaning can be attached to this photo.
Public reaction and criticism
For some people, the photograph suggests that Dr. Vance’s former statements contradicting himself on LGBTQIA subjects have been hypocritical. Jackson County Plan Commissioner Justice Horn spread the photograph across his social media accounts to shed light on such allegations as hypocrisy. “Ladies and gentlemen, a picture of JD Vance In drag while attending Yale Law school. I don’t share this to shame those who do drag, but rather to shame those who attack drag while having a history of enjoying the art form themselves,” Horn wrote.
Critics have come forward en masse wondering about how consistent he has been or pretending they are unaware if he had ever changed since then. Social media users have also stood up along side their former students at the time when they released the photo to substantiate their claim. Among others, it appears indicative of a double standard in Vance’s public positions as opposed to his private life.
JD Vance’s record on LGBTQ issues
Vance has been under fire for his stance on LGBTQ rights that has attracted criticism from the likes of Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and GLAAD. He backs The Protect Children’s Innocence Act that prevents medical practitioners from providing gender transition procedures to minors which is punishable by law. On the other hand, he was against Respect for Marriage Act aimed at safeguarding homosexual and interracial marriages.
Following public statements made by JD Vance, he has gotten into unnecessary conflicts with people within LGBTI communities via his inflammatory language and support for these harmful stereotypes. His campaign was entirely knitted around him embracing policies whose discriminatory nature can’t be gainsaid making this picture in drag even more stunning.
