Few Republicans Mention LGBT Victims in Orlando Reactions

It should come as no surprise that few Republican elected officials have made reference to the LGBT community and its victims in the wake of the horror that occurred last night in Orlando.  The point the finger at Islamic extremists even as the are busy selling their souls to America's version of the Taliban - the Christofascists and hate groups like Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, and here in Virginia, The Family Foundation.  Similarly, they ignore America's ridiculous gun laws that allow someone like Mateen who was twice investigated by federal authorities to own an assault rifle. To Paul Ryan and those like him who only reference "the victims" while prostituting himself to Christofascists I same on you - you are worse than the Pharisees in the New Testament.  The Washington Post looks at this deficit among Republicans.  Here are excerpts:

In the first hours since the mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, Democratic politicians have been far more likely than Republicans to note that the target seemed to be the LGBT community.

While suspect Omar Mateen's father suggested that anti-gay animus may have motivated him, only a handful of Republicans mentioned that aspect of the shooting; nearly every Democrat did.

The differences were stark in the reactions from the two parties' respective leaders in Congress. In a tweet, Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) referred generally to "the victims" of the shooting.

In a statement released around the same time, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) repeatedly mentioned the LGBT community. "This is a stark reminder of the violence that still threatens our LGBT community," she said. "San Francisco grieves with the people of Orlando, the LGBT community and the nation today."

Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not mention the LGBT community in his reaction. Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) did, saying "that this act of hate occurred at an LGBT mainstay during LGBT Pride Month makes it all the more horrific."

Jimmy LaSalvia, a longtime Republican strategist and founder of the defunct LGBT group GOProud, said that the reaction to Orlando reminded him of why he left the party.

"They ignore and reject the reality that LGBT are part of life in America today," LaSalvia said. "Remember the Charleston black church shooting? GOP politicians there fell all over themselves to take down the Confederate flag. I doubt anything like that will happen with the gay club shooting."

In his statement, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a quick LGBT reference, saying that "radical Islam advocates hate for women, gays, Jews, Christians and all Americans." By Sunday afternoon, only two prominent Republicans in Congress had mentioned the LGBT community in their reactions.  

Come November, LGBT Americans need to remember how little our lives mean to Republicans and need to vote a straight Democrat ticket.  Never vote for a Republican.