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Will Hurd wants his fellow republicans to start acting like the upstanding citizens they claim to be.
While at a function organized by the conservative group the Log Cabin Republicans, U.S. House Representative Will Hurd, the only Black Republican House member, pleaded that his fellow party members, “Don’t be an a–hole. Don’t be a racist. Don’t be a misogynist, right? Don’t be a homophobe.”
According to the Washington Blade, almost 70 people were at the bipartisan event in the Charleston Apartments ballroom, including LGBT politicians. Hurd then spoke to the group to express his concern that the growing animosity towards his political party could be its downfall.
“It’s a pleasure to be with you all today because you all know something that many of my colleagues don’t,” Hurd told the gathering. “If you’re at least the age of 40 in most places across this country you have to whisper that you’re a Republican,” he said. “This is a party that is shrinking. The party is not growing in some of the largest parts of our country,” he continued.
“Why is that? I’ll tell you. It’s real simple,” said Hurd. “Don’t be an asshole. Don’t be a racist. Don’t be a misogynist, right? Don’t be a homophobe. These are real basic things that we all should learn when we were in kindergarten.”
This isn’t the first time that the Texas official has opposed the more aggressive side of his political party. Due to his Southern Texas district being on the border between the U.S. and Mexico, Hurd has seen many conflicts arise between Trump supporters and minority groups. This includes the recent development involving two Border Patrol agents and a Honduran migrant forced to hold an “I Like Men” sign.
“People would ask me and I would say, look, are you asking the only black Republican to support not being pro-equality?” Hurd told the gathering. “And most people never have a follow-up question to that.”
Added Hurd: “And you all have been toiling and fighting for a very long time. You all have had a difficult fight not only in our country but in our party. And so I just thank you for sticking to it. Thank you for caring about our principles. Thank you for being an example for so many other people.”
Hurd is also one of the eight Republicans who voted for the Equality Act that could support LGBTQ civil rights. In the vein, it appears that the Log Cabin Republicans are in alignment with Hurd. At least, for that night.
One of the biggest topics from the bipartisan event was conversations on how to support LGBTQ rights.
As Log Cabin Republicans vice president Patrick Wheat said on the night:
“It exceeded my expectations. I’m extremely excited to have as many representatives from both the LGBT community and the D.C. elected officials,” he told the Blade. “We are in a unique place as the District of Columbia Log Cabin Republicans to serve as a conservative voice in LGBT spaces and as an LGBT voice in conservative spaces.”
If you want to read Will Hurd’s full remarks, you can read it over at the Washington Blade.
