Trump's Climate Change-Denying NASA Nominee Has Some Repulsive Anti-LGBTQ Views

In addition to denying the existence of climate change, President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA, Rep. Jim Bridenstine, is also a horrifying bigot.

Bridenstine, who was grilled by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing, possesses some decidedly dangerous views on climate change. Equally as concerning, however, are Bridenstine’s views on LGBTQ rights. Namely, that they shouldn’t really exist.

In 2013, before the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, Bridenstine wrote on his blog, “many studies have shown that both a mother and father are essential for raising successful and healthy children.” The Oklahoma congressman continued by announcing his sponsorship of a bill that defined marriage as strictly between a man and a woman.

Bridenstine also expressed his uniquely illogical opinion on the Boy Scouts allowing LGBTQ members to join in 2013. “The left’s agenda is not about tolerance, and it’s not about diversity of thought,” he said. “It’s about presenting a worldview of relativism, where there is no right and wrong, then using the full force of the government to silence opposition and reshape organizations like the Boy Scouts into instruments for social change.” Hm.

On more than one occasion, Bridenstine appeared on Tony Perkins’ radio show. Perkins is the President of the Family Research Council, an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as specializing in “defaming” the LGBTQ community and pushing junk science to suggest the community threatens American society.

When the tape of Trump boasting about “grabbing women by the pussy” leaked, Bridenstine defended him and criticized Speaker Paul Ryan for refusing to do the same. Pressed on his long history of abhorrent anti-LGBTQ views, Bridenstine his opinions would not interfere with his leadership at NASA.

“The views I have about sexual morality are my personal views,” Bridenstine said during the hearing. For any number of reasons, I’m not inclined to inclined believe him — and neither is GLAAD. “The Trump administration has hired unqualified anti-LGBTQ blowhards from day one and shown they are more concerned with furthering attacks on marginalized communities than selecting leaders who will better our country,” said GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis.