Republican candidate Valentina Gomez released a video to prove she is not gay for driving a Prius.
The 25-year-old is running for Missouri’s Secretary of State in the 2024 Republican primaries. Gomez is known for her homophobia and has been called out for a video where she says, “Don’t be weak and gay.”
In response, many queer people have posted their muscles, showing that being gay has nothing to do with being weak. Queer influencer alexschar poked fun at the video, showing off mock-up “weak and gay” merchandise. Gomez has also been called out for cosplaying as a veteran despite never serving in the military.
Most recently, the candidate made headlines for a new video in which she insists driving a Prius does not make her gay. The video comes as a response to people jokingly calling her gay for her car choice. In the video, she says, “They say driving a Prius is a little gay.” She proceeds to pull out a riffle and says, “Until I pull out this little guy.”
Gomez’s social media platforms are full of videos like these where she criticizes the LGBTQ+ community. She clearly panders to the far right posting in military vests, camouflage outfits, and with a variety of large firearms. In one video, she calls out France for “falling to the leftist communists.”
Many online call her out, while others make jokes about the ridiculousness of her claims. Even some conservatives find it hard to take her videos seriously. X user Native Patriot comments, “Valentina… I like your style… But the Prius is still very gay.”
Gomez is one of eight candidates running in this particular Republican primary. Despite her persistent attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, her main focus is changing Missouri’s voting system, advocating for voter identification and a paper-based ballot system. The primary election will take place on August 6, and the general election will follow on November 5, 2024.
Photo Courtesy of NBC News
