Colorado Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a supporter of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, has now proposed that queer and trans people should remain closeted until reaching a designated level of "maturity."
"We require people to be 21 to purchase alcohol beverages, and 21 to purchase tobacco products," the Colorado congresswoman wrote in a tweet posted on April 1.
"Why is it so unreasonable to require people to reach a certain level of maturity before making life-altering decisions about their sexuality and identity?"
Many on Twitter were quick to point out her hypocrisy, particularly on the subject of gun ownership for minors, as well as her personal history.
This is just the latest in what has become a pattern of anti-LGBTQ+ comments made by Boebert. In February, she was outspoken in her opposition to the Equality Act because it would extend civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ individuals. "We all know that that's just the Democrats using a play on words. There's nothing about equality in that act. If anything, it's supremacy of gays and lesbians and transvestites," Boebert said in an interview on Real America's Voice.
On March 31, the congresswoman tweeted a photo of herself alongside Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt after he signed the anti-trans "Save Women's Sports Act" into law, which bans transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams.
Boebert also introduced and cosponsored a bill alongside 20 of her GOP colleagues that would strip trans woman swimmer Lia Thomas of her NCAA swimming championship. Thomas' achievement drew the ire of conservatives who believe trans individuals shouldn't be able to compete in NCAA events for women and that the title should be given to Emma Weyant, who came in second. "Emma Weyant was the fastest woman competing in the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's 500-Yard Freestyle, but her first-place win was stolen by a mediocre man who couldn't cut it in men's swimming," Boebert said.
One of the Democrats looking to face Boebert in November's election is a gay man who went viral with his campaign video calling out Boebert's extreme views. Alex Walker's video shows fecal matter falling from the skies and ends with him declaring, "Colorado needs a bull, not a bullshitter."