Anti-queer Governor Rick Perry will shimmy on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has been confirmed as one of the “celebrities” appearing on the next season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.

That’s right, the former politician whose name may ring a bell as he is one of the most fanatical voices that spews anti queer rhetoric on the regular will be joining the likes of Ryan Lochte, Terra Jolé, Amber Rose, and Vanilla Ice on the national dance competition. Perry says he is using the competition as a platform to help veterans.

I’m dedicated to helping #veterans however possible, and I’m going to use @dancingabc as a stage to do that. #DWTS pic.twitter.com/oQpfJrrYcC

— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) August 30, 2016

We aren’t mad that Perry is taking his hands out of politics and placing them firmly in the reality show realm. During his time in Texas the governor helped make Texas one of the least gay-friendly states in the union. Let’s take a look at the long history of bigotry that has come from the new contestant’s mouth.

“Whether or not you feel compelled to follow a particular lifestyle or not, you have the ability to decide not to do that. I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.”

“There’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas.”

“The Boy Scouts of America has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years. And today’s decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness. While I will always cherish my time as a scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision.” — Perry’s 2013 statement after the Boy Scouts announced a more LGBT-friendly police.

“I probably needed to add a few words after that, ‘It’s fine with me,’ and that it’s fine with me that a state is using their sovereign rights to decide an issue. Obviously gay marriage is not fine with me. My stance hasn’t changed. Gay marriage is not fine with me.”

Queer ally, model, ANTM winner, and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco took the crown last season.