Vance Lives in a Gayborhood, Maybe He Feels At Home

Them

 From the Publisher, Adam Gonzalez:

People who knew Trump before he went MAGA will tell you he was not homophobic, Particularly people who worked with him in his made-believe TV series, Particularly gay people who had business with him. But for votes to reach what he wanted to be, "A dictator from day one" he would be against anyone to look appealing to any fringe group and convert them into a political cult. Vance has the same story behind him. But it is amazing what men would do for power. But that power is not almighty and infinite. Look at the ex-governor of Indiana, Mike Pence. He cleaned up after Trump for 4 years until he could no longer. Trump had changed him. What is he now? A nobody. Supposing he would have done what Trump wanted of him? He would be either in jail or in the same trial Trump will go through next year.

I never thought that there would be any similarities between myself and J.D. Vance Says James Factora (writer), the Appalachia LARPer and Republican candidate for Vice President. And yet, on the heels of the news that he has reportedly brought a trans friend baked goods after top surgery, reports have emerged that Vance lives in a D.C.-area gayborhood.

Last week, The Washington Post reported that the Ohio Senator lives in the Alexandria, Virginia neighborhood of Del Ray, a liberal enclave that was once nominated for “Best Gayborhood” in the Washington D.C. area. According to the Washington Blade, which reviewed public property records for the candidate, Vance purchased his $1.6 million home last year, and it’s located right by Del Ray’s main commercial street, Vernon Avenue, which is home to the gay bar pop-up Pride On the Avenue.

One of the co-owners of the bar, Bill Blackburn, told the Blade that gay people started moving to Del Ray in the early 1990s in large numbers. “Interestingly, Del Ray was kind of gentrified by a lot of the gay community in the ’90s,” Blackburn told the LGBTQ+ publication. “So, it’s interesting how this neighborhood evolved and how it’s become such a sought-after neighborhood that we even get right-wing Republicans who see the value of living here.” He added that Vance lives “like a hundred yards away” from Pride On The Avenue.

Ironically, Vance is known for his staunch support for anti-LGBTQ+ policies. He opposed the Respect for Marriage Act, introduced a bill that would make it a felony to provide gender-affirming surgery to trans minors, and has referred to LGBTQ+ people and their allies as “groomers.” Last year, after Vance bought his home in Del Ray, an anonymous artist in the neighborhood “yarn-bombed” the residence with hand-knitted and crocheted Pride flags, rainbow hearts, and a sign that says, “Respect Our Rights,” hanging the adornments on a utility pole outside.

Trump, meanwhile, has already promised to combat “radical gender ideology” in schools during a possible second term and to “keep men out of women’s sports,” as he explained in a video series about his platform, Agenda47, on his campaign site. The former president has also proposed bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth, has promised to roll back Title IX protections for trans students, and has pledged to cut funding for schools that are “pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content.”

"THEM"

James Factora is an L.A.-born, New York-based writer and musician. Their work has also appeared in Teen Vogue, Slate, Refinery29 and others.