Missouri State Representative Barbara Phifer (D) expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community after Republican candidate Valentina Gomez made bigoted comments about Phifer’s transgender grandchild.
Gomez has gained infamy for her radical right-wing actions throughout her campaign for Missouri’s Secretary of State. Gomez, a 25-year-old real estate investor, has begun pursuing a government career with a platform dedicated to far-right issues like: “protecting children against the transgender agenda,” “protecting sports—There’s [sic] only 2 genders,” and “bullet-proofing freedom—securing the second amendment.” She gained nationwide attention in February 2024 after she posted a campaign video showing her burning two LGBTQ+ books with a flamethrower, which garnered over 4 million views on X, formerly known as Twitter. Her homophobia has also extended to calling things “weak and gay.”
On June 21, Rep. Phifer shared a clip from The Daily Show that featured jokes about Gomez’s homophobia. She adds, “Valentina may be a laughingstock, but she represents a dangerous ideology that values hate above all else. Our children and grandchildren deserve to live in a country—and state—that loves and accepts them.”
Gomez responds to Phifer’s post on X, saying: “You have a trans grandchild. That means you raised a groomer. You failed your children, and they failed your grandchildren. Also, you’re irrelevant and belong in a nursing home.”
The campaign for Missouri’s Secretary of State currently includes three Democrats and seven Republicans. To date, none of the Republican candidates have publicly commented on Gomez’s transphobic rant towards Phifer and her grandchild. Regarding the lack of response from the Republican candidates, Phifer says, “It’s concerning any time a person attacks a child. Attacks on children have no place anywhere on anything.” Phifer continues, “It’s fine to disagree with me all day long, but we’re a community together, and we’re supposed to value our kids.” Gomez’s transphobic and homophobic sentiments are especially threatening in a state whose legislature is currently debating transphobic topics such as a proposed bill to make trans-supportive teachers register as sex offenders. The primary for Missouri’s Secretary of State on August 5. Featured image courtesy of social media.
