Eugene Vindman (D) who praised LGBTQ+ inclusion is now helping Republicans out trans kids

[Duncan Grant]

Last edited Fri May 22, 2026, 06:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Virginia Democrat who praised LGBTQ+ inclusion is now helping Republicans out trans kids

The first-term Virginia Democrat is facing fierce backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates after joining Republicans in support of H.R. 2616, the “Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act,” that legislation opponents have labeled a national “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” bill. It would require schools to notify parents before affirming a transgender student’s identity and restrict federally funded schools from teaching what Republicans describe as “gender ideology.”

Vindman was one of eight Democrats who voted for the legislation alongside Republicans. The others were Reps. Cleo Fields, Henry Cuellar, Don Davis, Laura Gillen, Vicente Gonzalez, Marcy Kaptur, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Of those Democrats, Vindman, Gillen, and Gluesenkamp Perez are members of the Congressional Equality Caucus, the House group dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ rights.

For many LGBTQ+ Virginians, the vote landed with particular force because Vindman had only weeks earlier spoken warmly and at length with The Advocate about visibility, acceptance, and progress in the 7th Congressional District, while discussing the Gardening Gays, a now well-known farm run by married couple Kevin Graham and Dragan Kurbalija in conservative King George County, southeast of Washington, D.C.

Why can’t “Speaker” Jeffries prevent democrats from voting with MAGA? This is not the first time. Democrats should NEVER enabled maga/trump — and yet here we are. Are Democrats doing enough to oppose trump? Have they done enough so far? I know what I’m seeing. Frankly, I think the current leadership strategy is ineffective (and dangerously complicit).

(There’s plenty of coverage in the media about this. Take a look for yourself.)