A Republican politician promoting bans on drag shows is facing scrutiny over past allegations of participating in drag himself. Matt Bernstein, a social media influencer and political commentator, has brought forward alleged images of JD Vance, Donald Trump’s potential running mate for 2024, dressed in drag. According to The Daily Beast, a representative for Vance did not dispute the authenticity of the photographs when contacted.
Bernstein shared the photo of Vance in drag on Instagram, reminiscing about Vance’s “eyeliner origin story” and notably tagging him in the post. Bernstein revealed that the image was sent anonymously through a mutual acquaintance and attributed to Travis Whitfill, a former classmate of Vance at Yale Law School.
When asked about the irony of anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ politicians having past experiences in drag, Bernstein stated that it reflects a natural human impulse towards self-expression rather than true irony. He emphasized that the push to limit and ban drag stems from political motivations rather than genuine beliefs about self-expression.
Bernstein also expressed concern about the current political landscape for LGBTQ+ rights, highlighting that circumstances could worsen under a Trump and Vance administration. He conveyed the necessity for voters to stay informed about the implications of their choices in the upcoming election.
In a light-hearted moment, Bernstein critiqued Vance’s potential drag persona, suggesting that his outfit would reflect a lack of preparedness for a design challenge, but he humorously added the importance of “protecting bad drag.”
Shortly after the initial revelation, Bernstein posted another alleged image of Vance in drag, reinforcing the situation’s ongoing attention. The accompanying caption noted that Vance’s representative did not deny the photos’ authenticity, further fueling the discussion around his controversial stance on drag.