Donald Trump and his range of supporters are something of a phenomenon, particularly Christian evangelicals.
Fusion examined the support (or lack thereof) from evangelicals, using an LGBT perspective. Trump addressed the LGBT community on Monday in his comments following the Orlando shooting:
He tweeted his thanks to the community and pledged to do better by them than Hillary Clinton.
Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 14, 2016
Trump has since earned many supporters from the LGBT community. He also has a 59-point lead among those who identify as white evangelicals.
Mike Jones is voting for Trump despite some reservations. “As a conservative Christian, I believe that homosexuality is a sin but what happened [in Orlando] is an abomination. No Christian could be happy about it,” he told Fusion. Some, including those with the ACLU, have blamed the shooting on conservative Christians.
For his inconsistent positions on social issues, his three marriages, and his questionable religious piety, Trump would wasn’t the obvious choice for evangelicals, especially during the primary season.
“Ultimately the candidates that I stood beside and aligned with my beliefs on abortion and gay marriage/rights are no longer in the race, so Trump was never my first pick,” Jennifer Bickley said, a stay-at-home mom from Tallahassee, Florida.
Bickley said she’d “like to vote, because to not vote would be a shame to what America is,” though also expressed reservations about voting. “But if I vote for a man or woman that could cause shame to America, how is that any better?” she asked.
It’s hardly surprising Trump would still have a commanding lead over Hillary with the demographic, as she supports same-sex marriage and abortion on demand. Trump has had inconsistent positions on abortion, but has made pro-life comments as well.
The primary season is now over, however, and Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee.
“Obviously Trump’s had moral failings, but I think if we were all honest, including Christians, we all have. But overall, I think I have more agreement with him than disagreement,” Jones said.
