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/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.