Vance’s ex-boyfriend finds college admissions comments ‘outrageous’

Sofia Nelson, a former friend of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) at Yale Law School, on Thursday called the vice presidential candidate’s suggestion that transgender people identify as transgender to make themselves more accessible to elite colleges and universities ” revolting” and “offensive.”

Vance made the remarks during a three-hour interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, during which the two men also criticized allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports and questioned the scientific evidence that support gender-affirming health care. At one point, Vance said he expected himself and former President Trump to win “the normal gay male vote.”

“I think the MAGA movement looks at minority identities as something that we take on and take off like a jacket,” Nelson, who is transgender, told CNN’s Laura Coates Thursday night. in a television appearance after the Vance-Rogan podcast episode aired. “The only advantage that being transgender has brought me is that I get to live my authentic self, which I think is what all trans people are looking for.”

“The reality for trans people in America is that we are four times more likely to be victims of violent crime,” Nelson said, referring to at a 2021 review of federal crime victimization figures. “There’s no evidence to support what he’s saying, and I think it’s part of this nefarious and calculated plot to divide us and sow division among the American people, and that’s why you see them spending $100 million running ads that it attacks me and my community. .”

Trump and Vance made anti-transgender messaging a central part of their campaign closing argument, spending tens of millions of dollars on advertising that portrays the Democratic ticket of Vice President Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as extreme for their past support for trans – inclusive policies. At rallies, Trump frequently rails against what he calls “transgender insanity” and has pledged on several occasions to ban trans women and girls from women’s sports teams as president.

The former president has also made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community in general, and last week referred to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who is gay, as “Allison Cooper” several times.

“Trans people just want to be left alone so we can live our lives,” Nelson said Thursday. “I’m not bothering anyone. I’m not making it difficult for any normal, quoted person to live their life, and I wish we could get back to a place of respectful, curious dialogue and not attacks.”

“I miss JD and Usha. I don’t wish them any harm,” added Nelson. “I care about them as people, but the political messenger he’s become, I think, is incredibly dangerous, and I encourage everyone, trans or not, to think about, ‘What do these kinds of attacks by our leaders mean to us . as a country? and “What kind of message does it send to our kids about bullying?” These are not the ways we want our children to talk about people who are different from us. It’s certainly not the way we want our leaders to talk about it.”

Vance spoke about his former friendship with Nelson while appearing on Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Nelson, he said, “was kind of disappointed” when Vance opposed gender-based care for trans youth while campaigning for the Senate in 2022. Vance is the lead sponsor of a Senate bill that aims to make it a criminal offense to provide transitional care to minors.

Nelson shared about 90 emails and text messages between herself and Vance, mostly from 2014 to 2017, with The New York Times in July. Vance in the exchanges describes Trump as a “morally reprehensible human being” and expresses support for Nelson’s gender identity. He and his wife, Usha, brought Nelson homemade baked goods after Nelson underwent surgery related to their transition.

“What we’ve seen is a chameleon, someone who is able to change their positions and their values based on what will accrue them political power and wealth,” Nelson told CNN’s Erin Burnett in July. “And I think that’s really unfortunate, because it reflects a lack of integrity.”

For the latest news, weather, sports and video streaming, go to The Hill.