State rep’s attack on LGBTQ people deserves censure

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Much of our new daily experience is unprecedented, but particularly frustrating to me has been the willful actions by some elected officials to put their constituents at risk. State Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon, did just that recently with a statement posted to social

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media. His statement mimicked that of another recent release by our Secretary of Health, Rachel Levine. Secretary Levine recently addressed the transphobic discrimination she’s faced while working to save lives and prevent suffering from COVID-19. Rep. Diamond thought it appropriate to release a copy/paste of her statement, replacing “LGBTQ” with “unmasked,” equating anger aimed at people who refuse to wear medically-advised face coverings to the discrimination our LGBTQ residents have long faced.

As a doctor, the consequences of this sort of rhetoric on our

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public health is concerning. As a human I find this rhetoric disgusting. The discrimination that LGBTQ people face causes real harm — hate crimes and murders of transgender Americans are on the rise. Furthermore, the medical literature and experts agree that wearing masks

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helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Attempting to legitimize “unmasked” as an identity is foolish and dangerous. Being “unmasked” is no more an identity than choosing to drive drunk. Both actions have the potential to harm our residents, and neither should be tolerated. Rep. Diamond’s reckless, despicable language is a public health hazard, and the House Republicans should censure him.

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