Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has long been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Credit: Facebook
It’s no secret Tim Walz is an avid supporter and longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ communities of Minnesota and beyond. His record speaks for itself — from signing a bill protecting trans individuals who seek medical care in his state to being the first faculty adviser for his local high school’s Gay Straight Alliance.
However, conservatives and right-wing personalities have taken to attacking his record, misconstruing Walz’s support for queer Americans as enabling something more nefarious. These claims have been amplified by notable voices within the Republican Party, including presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Trump has called the Minnesota Governor “too extreme” for the White House, even though the former president appointed Walz to the Council of Governors. The former president’s supporters have also mocked Walz for signing a law requiring schools to provide free menstruation products for students who experience periods, calling him “Tampon Tim.”
Despite these attacks from the right, data indicates Walz has yet to take a hit from those jeers.
“People are getting ‘issue fatigue’ with regards to the culture wars,” Todd Belt, director of the political management program at George Washington University, said. “As the election gets closer, people want to hear out kitchen-table issues that have a material effect on their well-being.”
One of the claims making its rounds in right-wing spaces surrounds the Trans Refuge Bill — a bill Walz signed last year granting legal protection to trans folks who come to Minnesota to seek medical care, even if the treatment is illegal in their home state.
Those who were against this bill claim it protects pedophiles in Minnesota, as well as falsely stating the bill allows the state to take custody of people’s children in the name of “gender-affirming care.”
These statements have been made by notable conservative personalities, including Elon Musk, Megyn Kelly and Trump. Unlike issues such as reproductive rights or inflation, Republicans had little success mobilizing voters around anti-trans issues, despite their continuing efforts.
“It’s not working right now” Belt said, adding that “people are tired” of the messaging.
“You can’t win an election just by being against something.”