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By Gwen Aviles
Texas Republican Governor Dan Patrick used a decades-old homophobic euphemism to describe heterosexual Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke in Fox News earlier this week, raising questions about the intended use of this phrase. .
In an interview with Laura Ingraham, a conservative firebrand, on Monday night, Patrick filed a long list of complaints about O'Rourke, a Texan colleague and former congressman. O'Rourke called immigration "servitude of modern times", which won him over in his support for reparations for the descendants of slaves.
"What a fool," said Patrick about O'Rourke.
"What happened to this guy?" Ingraham asked. "Was not it a little more reasonable it was not so long ago?"
Patrick replied, "He's so light in moccasins that he sometimes floats off the ground."
Later in the program, Ingraham asked Patrick to clarify his use of the sentence and if he heard it "pejorative".
"No no No, what I meant, for me, you know, he's a big arm," said Patrick, a long-time Conservative radio host, "He's just a lightweight."
"People might think of something else," Ingraham added.
On Tuesday afternoon, Patrick went on Twitter and tried to explain his statement again.
"I maintain my remarks on @Fox News this @BetoORourke is a light weight with no public policy substance. His views of the border are ridiculous, "Patrick wrote. "If someone takes a different meaning from one of my comments, I apologize." Let me repeat: this was not planned.
"JUST SUBTIL ENOUGH TO BE DENIABLE"
The phrase "light in moccasins" goes back to the 1950s and refers to the "hashing" or "effeminate walk" associated with some homosexual men, according to Matthew Riemer, author of the new LGBTQ history book "We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power and Pride in the History of Queer's Liberation." "
Riemer, also from Texas, said he had heard the term used as "a more respectful way, wink, wink, call someone gay." However, given the full context of the segment "The Ingraham Angle" and Patrick's assessment of LGBTQ Riemer said that he thought that the use of this term by Patrick was more likely a dog whistle Conservative.
"You can believe Patrick on his word, that he may not know the meaning of the sentence, in which case it would indicate to the Republican party that fanaticism is just stealing its language," Riemer said. "But it's more likely that he absolutely knew what he was saying when he used" light in moccasins "."
Riemer stressed the importance of the context in Patrick used the expression.
"In the space of a segment, Patrick's focus is on immigration and women of color. It's almost as if he should hit the queer community, "Riemer said. "It's something extraordinary in Trump's game book to say something offensive, but just subtle enough to be deniable."
Riemer also cited Patrick's criminal record as proof of his lack of support for LGBTQ people. In February, Patrick proposed legislation that would allow professionals providing health and counseling services to discriminate against LGBTQ people because of their religious beliefs.
At least one advertiser, Hims, has decided to shoot his ads for "The Ingraham Angle" as a result of Patrick's comments.
"Hims was created to remove the barriers that face all people who want to get quality care," the company wrote on Twitter in response to an article about the interview. "As a brand for all, we strongly denounce intolerance, whatever it is, and you will not find our ads in this program anymore."
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