RNC speakers lean into homophobic and transphobic rhetoric

Homophobic and transphobic remarks were unmistakably present throughout the first three days of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. At least a dozen RNC speakers have so far mentioned gender or sexuality negatively in their speeches, according to an NBC News analysis.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., kicked off the four-day event Monday with a speech loaded with anti-LGBTQ sentiment.

“This fringe agenda includes biological males competing against girls and the sexualization and indoctrination of our children,” Johnson said of the Democratic platform, which elicited boos in agreement from the crowd.

Johnson was followed by Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga, on the stage.

“They promise normalcy and gave us transgender visibility day on Easter Sunday,” Greene said, referring to the fact that Transgender Day of Visibility — which is celebrated on March 31 annually — coincided with Easter this year.

Party leaders then welcomed North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to the stage. Robinson made national headlines and faced calls to resign in 2021 after describing homosexuality and “transgenderism” as “filth.” While the lieutenant governor, who is now a gubernatorial candidate, did not make anti-LGBTQ remarks from the RNC podium, his record has been widely covered and Trump has endorsed him.

Much of the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric at the convention singled out the transgender and nonbinary communities.

“We were richer, inflation was low and there were two genders,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on the convention’s third night, referring to the country under the Trump administration.

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., similarly accused the left of “teaching our kids that there are 57 genders” and “can’t even define what a woman