Republican officials face fresh accusations of hypocrisy after escorts alleged secret affairs with lawmakers and Grindr activity spiked during GOP gatherings.
A secret gay sex scandal has shaken the Republican Party after male escorts in Washington DC accused married men, high-powered lobbyists, government officials, and a sitting member of Congress of being clients even as the GOP publicly champions traditional family values.
In interviews with the Daily Mail, escorts described long-running encounters with Republican figures. One 29-year-old sex worker claimed to have had a two-year relationship with a Midwestern congressman, saying, “It’s gotten difficult to ignore the dissonance between the man I know in private and the votes he casts publicly.” The lawmaker is now reportedly engaged to a woman. Another escort alleged he regularly saw Republican clients, including a state senator and federal staffers.
The revelations come as Grindr data showed a 166% surge in app activity during the GOP’s 2024 convention in Milwaukee, echoing spikes at other party gatherings. Grindr CEO George Arison noted blank profiles and discreet behavior surged when conservatives arrived.
The scandal revives memories of Republican officials like Idaho Senator Larry Craig, Virginia Congressman Ed Schrock, and Ohio lawmaker Wes Goodman, who all resigned after gay sex controversies despite anti-LGBTQ stances.
Critics argue the latest scandal highlights hypocrisy: Republicans denounce homosexuality in public while engaging in it privately. LGBTQ advocates say this double standard undermines trust and fuels harmful rhetoric.
While Democrats have faced similar incidents, analysts note they carry less political weight due to the party’s embrace of LGBTQ rights.