Instagram 'Influencer' Defends Aaron Schock Post, Completely Misses Point

When Jeremy Cormier posted a smiley beach photo with former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) on Instagram last week, he was roundly criticized for being tone deaf. Schock spent his years in Congress working hard to earn a 0 rating from the Human Rights Campaign -- despite his rumored and now documented homosexuality -- then left office in disgrace after a congressional ethics investigation revealed that "he used taxpayer money to fund lavish trips and events."

I reached out to Cormier when the backlash began but did not hear from him until last night, when he pointed me to a new post in which he defended his actions:

Aaron Schock and I became friends in 2019. I do not now, nor have I ever shared or supported the views he espoused concerning LGBTQ rights while in Congress. Knowing him, [sic] is to know someone who’s [sic] viewpoint has grown and changed significantly in the last decade. To affect [sic] change open communication among those with differing views is essential. The support our community enjoys can only grow when we reach out to those who don’t share our viewpoint.

He then touted his $500 donation to the Victory Fund -- which works to help openly gay candidates -- before segueing into this:

Since my post was made I have experienced bullying and personal hatred on a level that I would not wish on anyone. That behavior can never be justified even when it’s directed toward those who don’t support us. I encourage everyone to fight against hatred and bullying wherever it exists. To do that, please join me in donating to the @trevorproject , an organization fighting to provide crisis counseling to LGBTQ youth - many of whom have suffered from bullying. Once again, I have already donated $500 and invite others to donate as well.  

I’m not perfect. I am a normal, flawed individual and have never claimed otherwise. But what I do know is hate is toxic and it perpetuates - it is good for no one. I recognize this is only a small effort but let’s do something good together.

OK. This is a first step, but a flawed one. No one was "bullying" you, Jeremy. You have 26.5K followers and pal around with someone who served in the House of Representatives -- you’re hardly the "little guy" in this scenario. Everyday people were rightfully angry and questioning how you could glibly associate with someone who has done everything in his power -- actual power as an elected official -- to harm (y)our community, a community of which we have long known he was a member. While you are suddenly vouching for what a changed man Aaron Schock is -- a detail that was curiously missing from your original post -- he still has not shown even the slightest hint of remorse, much less offered an apology for what he did. Are people going to continue to be mad at him and people who gayly associate with him? Of course they are, unless something changes. As of now, though, that doesn't seem likely. Based on leaked messages, Schock continues to follow the GOP playbook of conflating people's unwillingness to accept intolerance with intolerance itself. Of course we will not tolerate Schock's or any other lawmaker's intolerance.

Donating to the Trevor Project is great. But instead of following in your new friend's footsteps by also playing the victim, why don't you use your "influencer" status to get Schock to start making amends -- instead of posting on social media how much he is living it up as a gay man (with people like you) on the backs of LGBTQ people who paved the way for him to have the life he so freely enjoys now?

View this post on Instagram

I realize the post I made the other day has gotten a lot of attention and raised questions about what I stand for. I’d like to address that now. Among other things, it has been assumed that my sole goal in life is to be an Instagram ‘influencer’ and while I have never claimed that, if I were to ever try and influence anyone it would be to do something good. So here’s what I have to say: Aaron Schock and I became friends in 2019. I do not now, nor have I ever shared or supported the views he espoused concerning LGBTQ rights while in Congress. Knowing him, is to know someone who’s viewpoint has grown and changed significantly in the last decade. To affect change open communication among those with differing views is essential. The support our community enjoys can only grow when we reach out to those who don’t share our viewpoint. In that vein I invite you to join me in donating to the @victoryfund , I have already donated $500. The organization works to elect openly LGBTQ persons to protect our community and advance equality. Since my post was made I have experienced bullying and personal hatred on a level that I would not wish on anyone. That behavior can never be justified even when it’s directed toward those who don’t support us. I encourage everyone to fight against hatred and bullying wherever it exists. To do that, please join me in donating to the @trevorproject , an organization fighting to provide crisis counseling to LGBTQ youth - many of whom have suffered from bullying. Once again, I have already donated $500 and invite others to donate as well. I’m not perfect. I am a normal, flawed individual and have never claimed otherwise. But what I do know is hate is toxic and it perpetuates - it is good for no one. I recognize this is only a small effort but let’s do something good together.

A post shared by Jeremy Cormier (@jeremycormier) on Aug 15, 2019 at 7:34am PDT