ABC’s This Week may have dumped homophobe Tony Perkins from its pundit lineup last weekend following the Orlando shooting, but Donald Trump hasn't. Among the 1,000-some social conservative Christian leaders Trump's wooing in New York Tuesday are a stable of folks who have made it their life's work to demonize LGBT people across the globe. David Badash has a glimpse of the lineup:
James Dobson, who founded both Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council. Tony Perkins, who turned Dobson's Family Research Council into a certified anti-gay hate group. Tim Wildmon, head of the anti-gay hate group American Family Association. Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America. Televangelist Pat Robertson, who blamed 9/11 on gay people. Ralph Reed, who headed Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, and now runs the Faith & Freedom Coalition. Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Family Leader president Bob Vander Plaats. American Values president Gary Bauer. Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
And let's not forget anti-gay preacher Harry Jackson, who has repeatedly railed against same-sex marriage, once calling it “a Satanic plot to destroy our seed.” In fact, it just so happens that Jackson and Dobson were both among the select few "Christian" leaders who were slated to ask Trump questions. Dobson's focus was religious liberty, while Jackson was fixated on—you guessed it—marriage (as in traditional, hetero marriage—not that same-sex stuff).
Considering how badly Trump needs the community’s support, it will be interesting to see if he ever utters the letters “LGBT” again. If he doesn’t, that will be a sign that Trump is bowing to evangelical wishes. If he does, it will likely say something about Trump’s lack of impulse control.