The man behind #GaysForTrump vows that the dramatic changes to the Republican Party Trump catalyzed will continue past the November election, whether Trump wins or loses.
Scott Presler, a gay Spanish and Arabic speaking Trump supporter, boasts 37,000 Twitter followers. He is also the admin for the 1,000-member “Gays for Trump” Facebook group and starred in a viral video railing against Hillary Clinton’s hypocrisy toward the gay community, garnering 2.5 million views in a matter of days.
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Presler spoke to The Daily Caller News Foundation about his desire to carry on Trump’s legacy, as well as the changes occurring in the GOP and why the GOP and the gay community can work together.
DCNF: How should Trump and the GOP alter the message to appeal to the gay community?
S: First, they need tokick out every single lawmaker in Washington and the Republican Party who does not support the LGBTQ community. The people who are in D.C. right now do not represent the majority of Republican voters. From what I’ve seen on social media, the majority of Republicans are open, accepting and tolerant towards the LGBTQ community. It is the people in D.C., the people in our state legislatures, that need to get kicked out so we can replace them with people like myself that will support the LGBTQ community.
DCNF: Most of the GOP is opposed to gay marriage, trans bathrooms, etc. Is it possible for the religious right and the gay community to work together?
S: I think the Orlando tragedy opened Christians’ and the LGBTQ community’s eyes. We are fighting for everyone to be able to live how they want to live in our country. It’s going to continue. We’re building a bridge right now. It’s not 100 percent there, but I believe that there is going to be continued progress within the LGBTQ community and Christians because we all have the same goals. We all want safety for our country, we all want jobs for our country and we want to be able to live our lives. I think people are coming to realize that we’re not focusing on the trivial, pedantic issues anymore. We’re looking at the broader, big picture now.
DCNF: Many GOP leaders have abandoned Trump over the lewd tapes. What’s your position on them?
S: I think there’s a big difference between actions and words. Mr. Trump did apologize for something he said 11 years ago. Secondly, if we’re going to fault Mr. Trump for his words, why are we not blaming Hillary for bullying the victims of her husband’s actions? Why are we not talking about her laughing over getting the rapist of a 12 year old off? Why are we not talking about actions versus words? I think the tape was directly put out there to take Mr. Trump down without looking at Hillary’s actions. To me, it’s all very hypocritical.
DCNF: Polls show that Trump may lose in November. What’s next for those who support Trump should he lose?
S: I want people to step up to the battlefield like I have. We need people like me to be leaders in our community. We need people to step up to the plate. When Mr. Trump wins, I want to continue Gays for Trump. I want to do more than what Log Cabin Republicans are doing. I want to get people into those spots, change the platform, recruit people into the GOP, and make sure we have a Republican party that truly represents all people in it. I want long-term change, not just stop at getting Mr. Trump elected. Mr. Trump is a conduit.
DCNF: How do you plan to be a GOP leader in a post-Trump society?
S: If Mr. Trump were to win, I plan to jump right in and run in 2018. I’d probably start with the state legislature in Virginia, and then go to Congress and start making real changes for the country.
DCNF: What type of legislation do you think needs to be addressed immediately?
S: Anti-discrimination laws. For instance, in Virginia, you can be fired if you’re an LGBTQ-American. And I want to make sure that we add protections for the LGBTQ community. My friend is a realtor, and she said that lesbian and gay couples can be denied housing based on their sexual preference. I think that’s wrong. A lot of people aren’t even aware that’s an issue.
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