As Pride Month concluded, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's campaign released a video criticizing former President Donald Trump's record on LGBTQ+ issues. The video, shared on Twitter, highlights Trump's past support for the LGBTQ+ community, contrasting it with DeSantis's own legislative actions targeting transgender individuals and restricting discussions of gender identity in schools. The video incorporates clips from movies like "American Psycho" and "Peaky Blinders" alongside headlines about DeSantis's policies. The video quickly gained over seven million views, sparking varied reactions. DeSantis has signed several bills into law this year, including measures banning gender-affirming care for minors, restricting drag shows, and regulating bathroom usage based on assigned sex at birth. These actions have been central to his political agenda. While DeSantis is Catholic, like President Joe Biden, Trump has previously emphasized his support for Christians, garnering significant evangelical support in past elections. A federal judge recently temporarily blocked the Florida law targeting drag shows, and DeSantis has also criticized the White House for the behavior of some attendees at a Pride event. He also criticized the display of a Pride flag alongside the American flag at the White House, although experts disagree on whether this violated flag code. Trump, who expressed solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community after the Pulse nightclub shooting, has also stated his intentions to restrict transgender participation in sports and ban gender-affirming care for minors. Both Trump and DeSantis recently addressed the Moms for Liberty conference, seeking support from conservative women and condemning the Southern Poverty Law Center's designation of the group as "extremist."
