Ohio’s Bernie Moreno is trying to blame someone else for his presence on the site.

Ohio’s Bernie Moreno is trying to blame someone else for his presence on the site.

The leading candidate in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary has been linked to a profile on a gay hookup website, sparking in-party fears that he could cost them the race.

Entrepreneur Bernie Moreno is one of three men running to face off against Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the fall. So far, Moreno is the front-runner, and his far-right stances opposing abortion access and LGBTQ rights have earned him an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

But in 2008, someone used Moreno’s email address to make an account seeking “Men for 1-on-1 sex” on the casual sex website Adult Friend Finder, the Associated Press reported late Thursday.

  • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
    80·
    8 months ago

    Note: This wouldn’t be news if Moreno had stayed supportive of LGBTQ rights instead of recently campaigning on bigoted GOP talking points. The hypocrisy is the important part.

    Beyond Moreno’s link to a queer sex website, voters may also be put off by his flip-flopping on LGBTQ rights. Moreno’s oldest son is gay, and he expressed support for LGBTQ rights and anti-discrimination legislation as recently as 2020.

    But starting in 2021, when Moreno first ran for Senate, he began to distance himself from his past positions. During this campaign, he has spouted common Republican talking points, including accusing LGBTQ rights advocates of pushing a “radical” agenda of “indoctrination.”

    • bitwolf@lemmy.one
      5·
      8 months ago

      I once read that it’s easier to gain support as a Republican running independent than a Democratic running independent.

      I have always wondered what it would look like if an Independent tried to get an easier entry through the Republican party what may happen.

      I imagine it could look something similar to this. The commentary on this reminded me of this thought.

  • yuriy@lemmy.world
    45·
    8 months ago

    out👏every👏gay👏republican👏

    no reason they shouldn’t face the same public shaming they impose on everyone else, fair’s fair!

    also god wants you to do it, he told me just now when no one else was looking.

    • inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world
      1·
      8 months ago

      Moreno’s campaign told the AP that a former intern, Dan Ricci, had created the account as a prank. Ricci also provided a statement saying he made the profile as “part of a juvenile prank.”

  • KillingAndKindess
    19·
    8 months ago

    I hate the idea that someone’s sexuality can even cost them an election…

    Buuuuut, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy if you ask me.

  • inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world
    3·
    8 months ago

    Also, if people would read the article:

    Moreno’s campaign told the AP that a former intern, Dan Ricci, had created the account as a prank. Ricci also provided a statement saying he made the profile as “part of a juvenile prank.”

    but as @snooggums has pointed out, it’s the hypocrisy of him flip flopping that going to hurt him the most.