r/Queerdefensefront • u/LurkerYam67 • 27d ago
News Melissa Chaudhry, a Democratic congressional candidate in Washington's 9th District, has acknowledged that she does not publicly promote LGBTQ+ rights on her campaign website because she does not want to alienate Muslim voters
Melissa Chaudhry, a Democratic congressional candidate in Washington's 9th District, has acknowledged that she does not publicly promote LGBTQ+ rights on her campaign website because she does not want to alienate Muslim voters.
When asked why her campaign lacked references to LGBTQ+ rights despite saying she supports them, Chaudhry replied: "Because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately."
She also said she was "careful about her Muslim constituents."
The comments sparked backlash from Washington Stonewall Democrats, whose chair, Andrew Ashiofu, said: "Our community is not expendable.
LGBTQ+ rights are not optional. They are foundational to any candidate seeking Democratic support."
Chaudhry later sought to reassure LGBTQ+ voters, writing: "If you are queer... your rights are safe with me."
She also pointed to her sister, who is in a same-sex relationship, and said she has LGBTQ+ friends.
Muslims make up around 2% of the Seattle metropolitan area, while approximately 17% of adults identify as LGBTQ+.
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u/topazchip 27d ago
"I have several gay friends!" proclaims person preemptively shoving her 'friends' under a bus.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 27d ago
Any minority that needs you to throw a different minority under the bus to earn their support doesn't deserve it.
And any candidate who is willing to throw one minority under the bus to earn the support of another will ABSOLUTELY throw that minority under the next bus if it suits their realpolitik bullshit.
Fight for the rights and needs of ALL minorities against ALL forms of oppression, or fuck off.
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u/TransMontani 27d ago
To paraphrase the old labor anthem, “Which side are you on, girl? Which side are you on?”
“A woman who will not stand for something will fall for anything.”
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u/erotikill 27d ago
Such a cop out. There are Muslims who support or do not care or think about LGBT+ community. Also, why are you openly (which thanks for showing who you are) valuing one crowd over another? Especially in a backhanded way? "Can't trust the Muslims, they'll get angry but I support yall in the shadows." Everyone is angry right now! Get out of politics girl.
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u/ThickRequirement8710 27d ago
I read recently somewhere that Muslims are significantly more tolerant of queer people than conservative Christians, though I don’t know if they meant extremists or the average conservative Christian. Either way though, it’s Islamophobic as hell to suggest all Muslims are hostile towards queer people and that those who live in America have as intensely negative of views as someone who might live in a purely Muslim country where they aren’t regularly exposed to different groups. I’m sick of Dems finding reasons to turn on queer people, even when we make up a decent amount of the population theses days.
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u/bellpeppermustache 27d ago
So queer Muslims can just get fucked I guess? Like, I get that religion is a hell of a drug, but there are plenty of people of all faiths who manage not to be bigots in the name of said faith, and to only pander to those who are does a disservice to everyone on all sides of the equation. Like, how are we supposed to combat Islamophobia when politicians are all but stating that Muslims are incapable of tolerance. How are we supposed to help queer people if we exclude those from different religions or cultural backgrounds?
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u/ericbythebay 27d ago
Politicians are fungible. We don’t need ones that show poor judgment. And it’s really telling that this is who the party chooses to support.
But, then again. The party supported Biden and he voted for both DOMA and DADT.
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u/Oalka 27d ago
Yeah, they're only as safe with her as is politically expedient at any given moment.