Gov. Andy Beshear defends Photo with drag queens

FRANKFORT, KY — (03-01-20) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) found himself defending his decision to pose for a photo with drag queens. The photo was taken at a recent LGBTQ rights rally after a anti-LGBTQ Republican lawmaker took offense at the photo, accusing the state’s governor of threatening traditional values.

The photo in taken last week at the annual rally hosted by the Fairness Campaign, who is calling on lawmakers to pass pro-LGBTQ legislation.

Gov. Andy Beshear, an LGBTQ ally, made history becoming the first sitting governor to attend the Fairness Campaign rally.

He showed not only the state but the country his support behind a bill to prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination. He is also supporting a ban on conversion therapy.

However the celebration was quickly rained on when State Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville) denounced the photo, calling it objectional and a front to traditional values.

Wheeler objected to Gov. Beshear standing alongside members of the Kentucky Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a national LGBTQ charitable and advocacy group whose members dress up like nuns.

Speaking at a campaign rally for Rep.-elect Richard White (R-Morehead) last weekend, Sen. Wheeler displayed the photo to his audience and accused the governor and the Democratic party of “trying to convince our children this is the right way to live.” said Wheeler. “Even when I was a young man, that kind of stuff just didn’t fly,” Wheeler, 41, said, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. “Now it seems like it’s everywhere.” said Wheeler.

Beshear told reporters last Thursday that he wasn’t intimidated by all of the drama Sen. Wheeler has created for publicity and would pose for the photo again, arguing that his faith teaches him to treat every single person with respect.

Naturaly the governor called Wheeler’s remarks “homophobic.”

“I don’t think he is the fashion police for the Capitol,” Beshear said of Wheeler. “I believe he owes each and every one of [the Sisters] an apology. They are as much Kentuckians as anybody else.” said Beshear.

The Kentucky Democratic Party fired back at Wheeler by pointing to Wheeler’s accusations as simply the latest in a series of anti-LGBTQ remarks made by the state lawmaker.

In a statement, the party accused Wheeler of having a “history of bigoted attitudes,” and pointed to a Facebook post Wheeler made using a racist term to refer to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D).

“It’s time for Phillip Wheeler to go. He’s embarrassment to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and his hateful, ignorant comments do not have any place in the Statehouse,” Marisa McNee, a spokeswoman for the Democratic party, told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “If Senator Wheeler does not resign, the Senate must censure him immediately.”

Wheeler insists he is being maligned by Democrats and that he took umbrage at the way the group was dressed like nuns and wearing devil horns. he insists it was not about their sexual orientation.

Wheeler told the Herald-Leader…“If they’re going to mock the Christian religion, I’m not interested in having a discussion with them,” he said. “They’re not going to convince me that it’s appropriate.”

It’s nice to see Gov. Andy Beshear defend his Photo with the drag queens in today’s politics.

Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

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