House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a direct link between “MAGA Republicans” and the horrific shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBT nightclub.
What did Pelosi have to say?
Pelosi decried the “despicable” incident at Club Q in a statement on Sunday, noting that it occurred “on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance.”
“The assault on Club Q on the evening before Transgender Day of Remembrance is horrible,” she stated, “further destroying the sense of security of LGBTQ Americans across the nation.”
Then, in a second statement recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance, Pelosi made a clear jab at “MAGA Republicans,” blaming Republicans for attacks against Lgbt individuals, such as the attack on Club Q.
“That struggle is more essential than ever, as right-wing radicals threaten transgender Americans’ most basic rights and liberties,” Pelosi added.
“Whether spewing harmful rhetoric from cable news desks or publicly taunting youngsters from the corridors of power, MAGA Republicans are brutally destroying our transgender society’s safety and well-being,” she stated.
What did others think?
Other Congressional democrats, groups, and media sources claimed that those who oppose the LGBT agenda are ultimately to blame for the terrible crime.
In a statement, the Denver Democrats, for example, stated:
“There is an unmistakable correlation between these types of acts and extremists’ obviously inaccurate and vicious speech regarding the LGBTQ community. We’ve witnessed an outpouring of anti-LGBTQ laws this year, nearly 300 in total, that are steeped in ancient and nasty notions that only attempt to further divide and traumatize a group of individuals who simply desire the exact same rights as everybody else.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated, “Following Trump’s elevation of anti-Latino and anti-immigrant discourse, we witnessed the bloodiest anti-Latino shooting in recent history. Atlanta, following anti-Asian hate from COVID. The Tree of Life AME Emanuel Buffalo. And now, Colorado Springs, following an anti-LGBT+ campaign. @GOP, connect the dots.”
Meanwhile, news organizations such as the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times attempted to link Republicans to the Club Q attack.
What are the official statements?
Despite the harsh rhetoric, investigators acknowledged Monday that they had not found enough evidence to infer that the perpetrator was motivated by hatred for LGBT people.
The investigation into whether the incident was motivated by hatred is still ongoing.