Valentina Gomez in the Missouri Secretary of State election became rather famous and rather infamous for her rather rude approaches.
Such involves openly uttering hostile statements and executing intent actions. For instance, she raised eyebrows when she burnt books having ingredients that she said teaches people to embrace a gay lifestyle.
She said things such as “Don’t be weak and gay” to appeal to conservative vote but lost the votes of so many others including the LGBTQ+ community.
Her extreme attitude enjoyed popularity online but failed to help her gain the votes of a majority of people during her sixth place in the primaries.
Gomez’s campaign illustrates a general trend in some Republican areas whether they are comfortable using polarizing strategies to get their followers.
Background on Valentina Gomez
Valentina Gomez, born in 1999 in Medellín, Colombia, grew up in a Colombian-American family that valued hard work and resilience.
Her parents moved to the U.S. for better opportunities, shaping her dedication to social justice and fairness.
Gomez studied at Central Connecticut State University, earning a Finance degree in 2019 and an MBA from Tulane University in 2020.
She worked in real estate and finance, handling large investments. Inspired to help those less fortunate, she entered politics, aiming to improve immigration policies and economic equality.
Campaign Strategy Overview
Valentina Gomez, a candidate for Missouri Secretary of State, wanted to implement conservative policies as well as be against the LGBTQ population; she wants to become an America First-MAGA Republican.
She pledged to take out books containing information on homosexuals from the libraries and she actually did it by burning the books using a flamethrower as the video went viral.
Her campaign strategy was to canvas for the support of the conservatives who believe in certain norms of decency and morality, and do not want anybody to teach their children about anything that they believe is ‘grooming’.
Gomez’s audience was more of the far-right conservatives who appreciated her aggressive attitude and some of the most abrasive comments such as ‘Don’t be weak and gay’ which went viral over the millions but potentially hurt the company’s reputation.
Provocative Messaging
Valentina Gomez’s campaign, known for its controversial language and images, has greatly influenced how people see her, attracting both supporters and criticism.
In a video shot in a neighborhood with a history of LGBTQ+ activism, she made a statement that was widely criticized for being homophobic, saying not to be “weak and gay.”
Her use of shocking visuals, like holding guns and burning books that include LGBTQ+ themes, has made her a divisive figure in the Republican Party.
Although her controversial messages have attracted millions of views on social media, they have also led to backlash, including ridicule and disapproval from well-known people.
Gomez’s approach shows a common strategy of using shocking content to appeal to some voters, but it also risks pushing away moderate Republicans and others who find her divisive language unacceptable.
Symbolism and Shock Value
In February 2024, Valentina Gomez caused a lot of debate by sharing a video where she used a flamethrower to burn two LGBTQ-related books, “Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens” and “Naked: Not Your Average Sex Encyclopedia.”
She said, “This is what I will do to the grooming books when I become secretary of state,” showing her plan to remove these books from public libraries in Missouri.
This act of burning books was seen as a strong form of censorship, reminding people of past book burnings by dictators.
Her campaign was deeply affected by this; it appealed to some far-right supporters of her anti-LGBTQ views but also faced strong criticism from LGBTQ groups and more moderate voters.
They believed her actions were promoting hate and going against democratic principles, making Gomez a controversial figure in Missouri’s political scene.
Homophobic Rhetoric and Its Consequences
Valentina Gomez’s controversial comment, “Don’t be weak and gay,” during a campaign video in St. Louis’s LGBTQ+ Soulard neighborhood has led to strong criticism from the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters.
Her comment, part of her campaign to attract conservative voters by promoting a tough image and criticizing perceived gay weaknesses, has been called homophobic and damaging.
This has been made worse by her previous act of burning LGBTQ+ inclusive books with a flamethrower, seen as a severe form of censorship.
The Role of Social Media in Her Campaign
Valentina Gomez used social media, especially X, to spread her controversial messages, including a video about jogging and not being “weak and gay” that became very popular, with almost 3 million views.
This shows how social media can quickly spread political messages and start conversations.
Valentina Gomez’s controversial views also drew a lot of followers from the far-right but caused a lot of criticism from LGBTQ+ supporters and allies, showing that using controversial content can have both positive and negative effects in politics.
Public Reactions
Valentina Gomez’s campaign has sparked strong reactions, with some people supporting her and others criticizing her.
Her controversial comments, like saying she won’t be “weak and gay,” have attracted supporters who like her tough stance and agree with her conservative views.
These supporters find her bold and traditional values appealing, seeing her as a voice against what they see as too much liberal influence.
On the other hand, critics, including LGBTQ+ groups and public figures like Martina Navratilova, have called her words and actions, like burning books, homophobic and damaging, arguing they promote stereotypes and intolerance.
Implications for the Republican Party
The GOP’s embrace of extreme views and intolerances are also evident in Valentina Gomez’s campaign through anti-LGBTQ policies and book burning.
This shift brings up a question of extremism to garner support from the voters that are polarized.
There is a possible transformation of the party in a more populist, culturally conservative party with more focus on matters such as immigration and same sex marriage.
This approach strikes a chord of the rural, evangelical, and low educated white population that loses touch with mainstream society.
Instead, it may turn off moderate Republicans and Independents showing that the party has yet to establish its clear direction in a sharply divided political culture.
Valentina Gomez as an example. Her performance portrays even more radical perspectives, and it is not clear how exactly the GOP will evolve and how to integrate different voters.