The Radical LBGTQIA’s Meltdown Is Turning Violent

There’s a shift in the political winds, and nowhere is it more palpable than within the liberal LGBTQ community. The Biden administration’s implosion—capped by a coup and Kamala Harris’s crushing defeat in November 2024—has left many in a state of raw anger and despair. Looking back, it’s hard to argue they got much from the Biden years: Black Lives Matter riots, the George Floyd upheaval, a flood of warped gender ideology, and runaway inflation. Hardly a golden era.

Meanwhile, conservative gays like me woke up in November 2024 to both houses of Congress and Donald Trump back in the White House. In just 30 days, he’s reshaped the political and national landscape—delivering everything we voted for and more. Promises made, promises kept. It’s a triumph that’s tying liberals in knots. Most stew in frustration, but a small, unhinged fraction have snapped—and that’s where the danger lies. I know because I’ve been on the receiving end.

This isn’t a new playbook. Back in 2018, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) set the tone, bellowing on camera: “If you see anybody from that [Trump] Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.” Her words weren’t just rhetoric—they were a call to action, a green light for intimidation.

Waters was an early symptom, but she’s far from the only one. The latest escalation came this month from Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). In a February 2025 CNN interview, he declared, “What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy.” The irony is thick: a sitting lawmaker invoking authoritarian echoes while claiming to defend democracy. His words aren’t just reckless—they’re a lit match in a tinderbox, and they’re resonating within corners of the LGBTQ community.

I’ve seen the fallout up close. Earlier this month, my friends and I were physically attacked in a Long Beach gay bar for wearing a MAGA hat. A week later, it happened again in West Hollywood—same hat, same hate. These weren’t debates gone wrong; they were ambushes fueled by a radical strain of liberalism that’s eroding American decency at a breakneck pace.

So, how do you respond when the fists start flying? Instinct screams to hit back—it’s human, reflexive, simple. But it’s also a trap. In both cases, as hard as it was, I chose restraint. I left the bar and called the police.

When officers arrived, they asked if I’d press charges and face my attackers in court. My answer was a firm “yes.” Both assailants were arrested, charged with battery and assault, and their cases now sit with the Los Angeles County District Attorney. What’s more, their actions appear to violate California’s Ralph Act, which protects against violence motivated by “political beliefs” and carries civil penalties of up to $25,000.

We’re watching a standard of ethics crumble in real time, faster than I’ve ever seen. But if you find yourself targeted for your politics, here’s what I’ve learned: Stop. Think. Act smart. Restraint isn’t weakness—it’s strength. Don’t strike back. Instead, document everything—photos, videos, witnesses—and call law enforcement immediately. Press charges. File a restraining order. Know your rights.

The radical Left may be losing its grip on power, but it’s lashing out in the process. I’ve felt the bruises. But I’m not backing down—and neither should you. We can fight this with principle, not fists, and let the law do its job.

-Paul Ramirez, Member CA 56 Central Committee