On Sunday, August 11, photos began swirling around X (formerly Twitter), showing Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance dressed in drag, sporting a cheap plastic blonde wig, a silver necklace, a blue purse over his shoulder, and bold black eyeliner. Another full-body image reveals that Vance was also wearing a long skirt.
Vance's representatives claimed that the photos were from a 2012 Yale college party. An unnamed Ohio senator contacted Snopes to clarify that they have no deeper meaning. "JD put on a bad wig at a college party — not exactly scandalous," the representative said.
While not scandalous, the images reveal that Vance did more than sport a blonde wig while attending the party. The detailed eye makeup — which some TikTok users noticed appears similar to Vance's bold RNC look — and the playful and seductive pose suggest there was more intent to the costume than just a momentary silly photo in a wig.
Like many cis-het adults, Vance appeared to embrace playful gender expression. The costume looked less like a mockery of women or drag queens and more akin to the freedom many in the LGBTQ+ community, especially those in the closet, have felt when attending costume parties and Halloween events that permit them to cross-dress. The pose and slightly parted lips all seem just a little too natural.
In his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, Vance reflects on his childhood, recalling a moment when he once believed himself to be Gay, detailing an early experience with a religious leader who condemned the LGBTQ+ community. Young Vance returned home to his grandmother, convinced that he would go to hell due to his lack of attraction toward girls and strong affinity for a close male friend. His grandmother assured him, rather graphically, that he was heterosexual, but also voiced acceptance regardless of whom he loved.
Anti-Queer views
Vance was raised in a family that openly described themselves as "Blue Dog Democrats." He attended Yale Law School and married a second-generation immigrant and impressive career woman, Usha. By all accounts, from his background, many would have expected Vance to view LGBTQ+ rights from at least a centrist point of view — but he loves nothing more than defying expectations.
The man who once called himself a "Never Trumper" and referred to his current running mate as possibly "America's Hitler" shares Donald Trump's alt-right views on LGBTQ+ rights. Both the HRC and GLAAD have released lists of Vance's anti-LGBTQ+ comments, as well as discriminatory policies he has advocated.
In 2023, Vance introduced the Protect Children's Innocence Act, which intended to block hormone replacement therapy, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming operations for minors nationally. Physicians who violated the proposed law could have faced up to 15 years in prison had it been passed.
Vance regularly condemns the Trans community. In 2022 he introduced a bill banning X gender markers on US passports.
"The last thing the State Department should be doing is wasting its time and your tax dollars pushing far-left gender ideology," he said. "There are only two genders — passports issued by the United States government should recognize that simple fact."
The photos of Vance in drag add a new layer of complexity to the VP candidate's past. Whether his strong anti-LGBTQ+ stance comes from deep-rooted shame, a political power ploy, or the impact of the far right's ability to sway moderates toward their hateful agenda, it remains dangerous to the millions of Queer people in the US, who, like Vance, once found joy and freedom in gender-bending costume parties.
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