By, Shawn Grooms
With the recent string of attacks directed at Mexicans, Muslims, the LGBTQ community and people of color from Donald Trump, the idea of a gay or even black Republican sounds about as taboo as a trans-woman in the North Carolina public restroom.
The two just don't mix, right? Wrong.
The Republican National Convention did all they could to inject minority voices into the speaking lineup, yet many began to question whether or not those speakers were proper representations of minority communities or simply bucking the trend.
"When we hear from these representatives of minority communities at the RNC, they're really trying to blanket some of Donald Trump's more dangerous ideas," Brian Tashman, a Senior Research Analyst at the People for the American Way, told GVH-Live.
Two of the RNC's speakers, Peter Thiel, a gay entrepreneur, and Sheriff David Clarke, a black conservative, caused some to scratch their heads.
"Peter Thiel is someone who wouldn't be affected by some of Donald Trump's most dangerous policies," Brian stressed. He pushed for policies that include giving parents the option of placing children in gay-conversion therapy, even with the American Psychiatric Association's strong opposition to such "treatment."
Thiel, who's the founder of PayPal, benefitted greatly from a lawsuit with the media company, Gawker, after the popular site outed him in 2007.
"I am proud to be gay," Thiel exclaimed during his RNC speech. "I am proud to be a Republican, and most of all I am proud to be an American."
According to Time Magazine, Thiel's speech centered mostly around fixing the nation's economic crisis, an issue concerning many Americans, especially millennials. While it's a milestone, Thiel's lack of discussion on LGBTQ rights left a bitter taste with the majority of the community.
Thiel's disclaimer of "not agreeing with every plank of the platform" was insignificant to his indifference over the "transgender bathroom" debate. The venture capitalist did more to illustrate his immunity, than announce a call to action.
However, he wasn't the only minority speaker to come off as an anomaly, rather than a representative. Given the growing tensions between the black and law enforcement communities, Sheriff David Clarke took the opportunity to share his two cents spoke on the issue.
Opening his speech with "Blue Lives Matter!", the Milwaukee County sheriff made his stance against the Black Lives Matter movement perfectly clear, standing by his previous comments in which he denounced BLM activists as "black slime."
Clarke is considered a "contradiction to his own statement within himself" by many members of the black community.
While it's a political play to bring out black, gay or even Hispanic and Muslim speakers at Republican events, those communities still won't buy what Donald Trump is selling.