Following Bernie Moreno’s Tuesday victory in the Republican primary to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ equality organization released a list highlighting his anti-LGBTQ+ accomplishments.
“Bernie Moreno’s willingness to target LGBTQ+ Ohioans for political gain demonstrates the depth of his extremism and the shallowness of his character,” said Geoff Wetrosky, vice president of national campaigns at Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
Moreno, a former car dealership owner, defeated Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan by wide margins on Tuesday.
Backed by Trump, Moreno will now face incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in the November election.
Moreno was once an LGBTQ+ supporter
As a businessman, Moreno has repeatedly advocated for LGBTQ+ equality.
His car dealership group was a financial sponsor of the 2014 Gay Games, and Moreno himself wrote article published in Crain’s Clevelandcalling the event a “huge victory” for Cleveland and Akron.
He has spoken publicly about his oldest son, who is gay.
His company was listed as a member of Ohio Business Competes (OBC), a coalition supporting the Ohio Fairness Act, which would provide LGBTQ+ Ohioans protections in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations.
When he became a candidate in 2021, Moreno’s views on LGBTQ+ changed significantly.
From support to opposition
When he was – he asked during a 2021 campaign stop regarding his company’s presence in OBC, Moreno stated that he had no knowledge of the Ohio Fairness Act. The campaign stop was a forum organized by the Center for Christian Virtue, an anti-LGBTQ+ organization that aggressively lobbied against the bill.
After reporters reminded him that he had met with Equality Ohio leaders in 2017 to support the bill, he said he supported the general concept of not discriminating against LGBTQ+ employees.
HRC provided the following list to demonstrate examples of Moreno “spreading hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ Ohioans and adopting policies that take away the freedoms of Ohioans”:
- Moreno supported the ban on health care for transgender youth vetoed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and baselessly suggested that the care is provided because it is “big business” for Ohio hospitals [Bernie Moreno, “Charlie Kirk Show,” 1/8/24]
- Moreno is supported by Ohio values voters who oppose marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights [Associated Press, 3/14/24]
- Moreno accused his primary opponents of supporting a “radical trans agenda” and a super PAC supporting Moreno ran a television advertisement calling one of his main opponents the “trans equality prime minister” because he supported a bill providing anti-discrimination protection for LGBTQ+ people (a bill that Moreno previously supported) [Associated Press, 3/14/24]
- Moreno supports a federal abortion ban and strongly opposes Issue 1 (a referendum on a ballot measure to protect abortion access in the Ohio Constitution), saying it would “open the door” to transgender people receiving health care [Bernie Moreno on “RestoreLiberty.US,” 10/14/2023]. The Ohioans vehemently rejected Moreno’s position, outscoring the No. 1 seed by a 13-point margin.
- Moreno said people who support transgender students playing sports “hate this country” and believes schools are “indoctrinating” our children [Bernie Moreno, “Raw With Mindy And Boots,” 03/03/24].
“It is clear that he has fully embraced an extremist brand of politics that spreads hate and seeks to strip Ohioans of their freedoms at every turn, from health care to marriage equality,” Wetrosky said. “His opposition to equality and abortion puts him firmly on the wrong side of Ohio voters – including many members of his own party – a choice he will pay for at the ballot box in November.” 🔥
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