The best line of Donald Trump's nomination acceptance speech last week was also the most disingenuous.
"As your President, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. Believe me."
After that, Trump reportedly went off script, ad-libbing, "And I have to say, as a Republican: It is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said. Thank you."
Yes, it sounds nice, to be sure—a Republican telling an adoring GOP audience that "LGBTQ citizens" are worthy of dignity, respect, and protection, all with applause and cheering to boot. But here's the most apropos assessment of those alluring words, via Eric Peterson:
He's offering you a piece of candy. It looks delicious. But our mothers taught us better than that. Don't take candy from the bad man.
Danger! Danger! Don't be lured in by that creepy old man because once he's got you, the reality is downright grim. And the reality on LGBTQ rights is—just like with every other empty promise—Trump has done exactly nothing to ensure that his administration could deliver any of the goodness he's waving around before your eyes.
In fact, he delegated the entire LGBT portion of the GOP platform to homo-hater Tony Perkins of the anti-LGBT Family Research Council, he picked a running mate who has specialized in marginalizing gay Americans and Trump promised to turn over all policy decisions to him, and Trump has pledged to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn the Supreme Court's marriage decision.
So even if you gave Trump the benefit of the doubt on believing his pro-LGBTQ rhetoric—even if—what's overwhelmingly clear is that such an inclusive agenda is DOA in a White House headed by a creepy man offering us candy.