May 15
'Don't be Weak and Gay,' Book-Burning Missouri Candidate Says
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Book-burning Missouri candidate for Secretary of State Valentina Gomez set Twitter alight with her latest unintentionally hilarious (if all too deliberately ugly) social media post, a video that sees her clad in the latest sportswear trend – a bulletproof vest – and telling viewers not to be "weak and gay."
The video shows Gomez "running through the predominantly LGBTQ neighborhood of Soulard in St. Louis," UK newspaper the Daily Mail reported.
"In America you can be anything you want," Gomez declares, before paradoxically offering the non sequitur, "so don't be weak and gay."
As she continues to huff along, Gomez hurls an f-bomb, adding: "Stay fucking strong."
The video ends with another left-field tangent: a photo of Gomez posed with an assault rifle in hand, wearing dark glasses and National Rifle Association hat that displays an American flag depicted not in classic red, white, and blue, but in ashy grayscale tones.
"August 6 is the day we take Missouri back from these corrupt politicians," the post's caption says.
"Gomez, a Colombia native, is on the ballot in the August 6 GOP primary to choose the candidate for secretary of state," the Daily Mail noted, before pointing out that Gomez is running for the seat being left vacant by GOP incumbent Jay Ashcroft's gubernatorial bid.
If nothing else, Gomez's messaging is consistent. The Mail recalled that the anti-gay pol "shared footage of herself setting two LGBTQ-inclusive books on fire in February, characterizing the literature as 'grooming, indoctrinating and sexualizing.'"
The article recalled that "Gomez has previously said 'don't be gay,' when referencing 'countries that ban rifles, guns or even flamethrowers,'" and noted that when the fiery video was pulled by Instagram she was quick to compare herself to Donald Trump, declaring, "I am one of the most suppressed voices on Instagram." Still, she hasn't been prevented from flooding the platform with her right-wing messages, which include admiring posts supportive of right-wing influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, both of whom, the Daily Dot noted, "were charged with human trafficking and rape and are awaiting trial, which will be in Romania."
Said Gomez in a video on X, "They're trying to put President Trump in jail, just like Andrew and Tristan Tate."
Added Gomez: "If speaking the truth gets you a trip to jail, then I guess I should get my jail bag ready."
"Good thing I like chains anyways."
Gay Twitter, which is anything but weak, pushed back on Gomez's jogging-in-a-bulletproof-vest post with a seismic response that called out the 24-year-old political neophyte and MAGA wannabe.
"The messaging is mixed when you say that, but your vibe is apocalypse ready lesbian," one person posted.
"She's sprinting in that vest to scissor a sister," another speculated.
A third mused, "I say this every morning to myself to get me to the gym".
Others suggested that the lady did protest too much.
Have a look at what some others had to say in response.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.