Failed Republican Senate candidate and QAnon conspiracy theorist Lauren Witzke attempt to undermine Pride Month has unexpectedly garnered support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Witzke's post, featuring an image with the words "Pride Month" fading to reveal the word "demon" in rainbow letters, faced strong opposition from LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who embraced the meme, ridiculed Witzke, and highlighted the queer and trans artist responsible for creating the rainbow version of the image.
You can see Witzke's tweet below.
\u201chttps://t.co/IX0Sn0LKvx\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
Artist Veya, who uses fae/they pronouns, repurposed the original anti-LGBTQ+ meme in 2021. The initial image, attributed to Christian publisher Sword-In-Hand Publishing's Facebook page, displayed the word "demon" in red letters after the fading of the phrase "Pride Month."
However, Veya transformed the meme into a symbol of empowerment and inclusivity by replacing the red letters with rainbow colors. This artistic reinterpretation gained attention after Witzke's misguided attempt to discredit Pride Month.
In a follow-up tweet, Witzke seemed blissfully unaware of how her tweet would be received, writing:
"Demons can seethe. Christians are DONE taking crap from the LGBTQ Mafia. We’re cancelling Pride Month, pouring out your Bud Light, shutting down your Targets, and we’re taking back the rainbow.”
"We will also stand up for our right to criticize your depravity in court. No more cowarding, no more pandering."
You can see her post below.
\u201cDemons can seethe.\n\nChristians are DONE taking crap from the LGBTQ Mafia.\n\nWe\u2019re cancelling Pride Month, pouring out your Bud Light, shutting down your Targets, and we\u2019re taking back the rainbow.\n\nWe will also stand up for our right to criticize your depravity in court.\n\nNo more\u2026\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
In response to Witzke's tweet, the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters created various parodies and riffs on her post.
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE i know you meant bad intentions behind this but i would actually wear this shirt \ud83d\udc85\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\ude02\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE made one for the desantis crowd <3\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE I am a demon. Rawr. \ud83d\udc79\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE Yaaaaaaassss\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE gets way worst\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
These creative and empowering responses not only countered Witzke's message but also highlighted the rejection of her divisive rhetoric.
Numerous individuals also expressed their support by purchasing T-shirts featuring Veya's design, further amplifying the artist's visibility.
\u201c@barelyyalex @LaurenWitzkeDE @PosiTiffTV You can buy it here - https://t.co/zk7w6TLhwp\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
\u201c@LaurenWitzkeDE Available in white here\ud83d\udc55\ud83d\uded2\ud83d\udc47\nhttps://t.co/UPlHND6Yku\u201d— Lauren Witzke (@Lauren Witzke) 1685119150
Witzke has a extensive track record of targeting and criticizing LGBTQ+ individuals.
In March 2021, Witzke responded to a tweet by diplomat Richard Grenell regarding a trans woman's attendance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) by making derogatory statements, claiming that transgender people are "mentally ill" and "demonic."
Witzke, who previously worked as a host for the far-right conspiracy theory and disinformation website TruNews, also referred to the COVID-19 outbreak that affected the outlet as a "demonic attack." She attributed this attack to the channel's hosting of far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, who identifies as "ex-gay," and referred to him as "Satan's favorite sodomite."
More recently, Witzke expressed her support for Uganda's death penalty for homosexuality, stating that unlike lawmakers in Texas, the Ugandan government recognized the need to prevent any perceived encroachment by the LGBTQ+ community and labeled them the "LGBTQ Mafia."
