Florida Republicans Turn to a Capitol Rioter to Sell Their ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

As outrage over Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill continues, advocates for the soon-to-be law that would limit classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender have resorted to an interesting ally to argue their case: a pro-Trump influencer who participated in the Capitol riot.

On Monday evening, several Florida officials are set to participate in a Twitter Space town hall hosted by Brandon Straka, who was sentenced to three years of probation in January after admitting in a plea agreement to taking a shield away from a US Capitol Police officer. The event—titled “Don’t Say ‘Don’t Say Gay’” and run by Straka’s “#WalkAway Campaign”—will also feature state Republican Reps. Joe Harding and John Snyder, several conservative LGBTQ pundits, and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw, who has come under fire recently for her anti-LGTBQ rhetoric.

“Every Republican is being maligned nationally by the left’s latest manufactured crisis. Why? Because they’re headed into brutal midterms,” Straka wrote in a Monday tweet promoting the 8:30 p.m. event. “This affects every Republican—so be there tonight!”

Read more at The Daily Beast.