The Fallout of Kyrsten Sinema’s Betrayal of LGBTQ+ Rights

Kyrsten Sinema, the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress, was once hailed as a progressive figure who could bring about change for marginalized communities. However, her trajectory over the years has shifted from championing progressive causes to adopting more centrist positions, leaving many of her early supporters—particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community—disappointed. Here are eight significant moments where Sinema’s actions or stances have let down her supporters.

1. The Stalled Equality Act

One of the most significant setbacks for LGBTQ+ rights during Sinema’s tenure was the failure of the Equality Act in the Senate. The bill, which would have provided nationwide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations, passed the House twice, in 2019 and 2021. However, it failed to make it through the Senate due to the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to end debate. Sinema, along with Senator Joe Manchin, opposed efforts to lift the filibuster, which meant the Equality Act could not overcome this procedural hurdle. Despite publicly supporting the bill, Sinema’s defense of the filibuster ultimately led to its demise. Her position raised concerns that visibility and representation alone would not be enough to guarantee the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

2. Voting Rights Legislation Blocked

Sinema’s stance on the Voting Rights Act also disappointed many progressive groups, including those advocating for equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. In January 2022, the Senate debated a bill designed to counteract voting restrictions that disproportionately affect communities of color, lower-income individuals, and historically marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people. Despite the overwhelming importance of these reforms, Sinema and Manchin voted against weakening the filibuster rule to allow the bill to pass with a simple majority. As a result, voting rights legislation failed to pass, further disenfranchising vulnerable communities.

3. Reproductive Rights at a Standstill

Sinema also played a pivotal role in the Senate’s inability to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act in 2022. The bill aimed to protect abortion rights at the federal level in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Although Sinema was pro-choice and voted in favor of advancing the bill, her continued defense of the filibuster meant that the bill failed to pass. This inaction left many, particularly women and LGBTQ+ people who rely on reproductive rights protections, disillusioned with Sinema’s commitment to progressive causes.

4. Opposition to a Federal Minimum Wage Increase

In 2021, Sinema became the focal point of outrage when she voted against including a $15 minimum wage increase in the COVID-19 relief package. Her thumbs-down vote became infamous, and many critics viewed it as a rejection of the very people who would have benefited most from such a policy, including LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those of color and transgender people, who disproportionately work in minimum wage jobs. Sinema’s decision not only failed to support a critical wage increase but also spotlighted a pattern of behavior where her actions contradicted her earlier progressive commitments.

5. Criticism of Her Luxurious Spending

Sinema’s use of campaign funds also raised eyebrows, especially when it was revealed that she had spent over $100,000 of donor money on luxury hotels, private jets, fine dining, and other extravagant expenses. This led to criticisms from both left-wing and right-wing watchdog groups. For progressives, particularly those struggling with poverty, the optics of Sinema’s lavish spending were hard to ignore, especially when she had positioned herself as a champion for working-class people, including many in the LGBTQ+ community who are often economically disadvantaged.

6. Coziness with Mitch McConnell

Sinema’s relationship with Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell also left many scratching their heads. In 2022, Sinema publicly praised McConnell as a “friend” and referred to him as a “genuine moderate and dealmaker.” This statement and her close ties with McConnell, who had long been a powerful opponent of progressive legislation, alienated many of Sinema’s supporters who expected her to push back against conservative influence in the Senate. For many LGBTQ+ advocates, Sinema’s willingness to cozy up to McConnell undermined her credibility as an advocate for equality.

7. Ridiculing Democrats and Their Values

After leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent, Sinema began to make disparaging remarks about her former colleagues. In a meeting with Republican lobbyists, she mocked Democrats, referring to them as “old dudes … eating Jell-O” and “talking about how great they are.” This rhetoric, combined with her public distancing from her past as a progressive Democrat, alienated many who had once supported her. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, her willingness to distance herself from the very party that had championed LGBTQ+ rights raised doubts about her commitment to their causes.

8. Ethical Questions About Campaign Spending and Ties to Tulsi Gabbard’s Family

Sinema also faced ethical questions when it was revealed that she hired Vrindivan Gabbard Bellord, the sister of former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, to provide security services for both her campaign and Senate offices. Gabbard had switched from being a Democrat to a Republican and had a controversial history of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Although Sinema and Gabbard were both independents by this point, the arrangement raised significant concerns about Sinema’s judgment and her willingness to align with figures who had been openly hostile to LGBTQ+ rights in the past.

Conclusion

Kyrsten Sinema’s evolution from a progressive champion to a more centrist figure who frequently sided with Republicans has left many of her early supporters, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, feeling betrayed. From her defense of the filibuster, which has stalled key LGBTQ+ and progressive legislation, to her questionable spending practices and alliances with conservative figures, Sinema’s actions have undermined the trust of those who had hoped she would be a fierce advocate for equality. As her political career continues to unfold, it’s clear that her legacy will be marked by these disappointments, leaving many to wonder what could have been had she stuck to the progressive ideals she once championed.

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