Shameful Homophobia of Anti-Vaxx Extremists

In America, it has long been known that there is a strong correlation between anti-Vaxx groups and the homophobic right wing. A handful of leftists and liberatians are involved, to be sure, but the majority opinion of the Anti-Vaxx movement has been dominated by right wing, pro-Trump and anti-LGBTQIA discourse. With some sang froid, atheist groups have reported on the demise of several anti-gay anti-Vaxxers with the Covid19 that they have been denying for the last two years. It now looks like the anti-vaccine movement in the Republic of Ireland is also affected by far right wing activism. A vicious, racist and homophobic protest outside the home of the Deputy Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, took place on Sunday 19th September, during which anti-vaccine extremists sought to link Mr Varadkar's ethnicity and sexuality with a fictional paedophile ring that they claim runs the state. Mr Varadkar was the first dual heritage and the first gay Prime Minister, or Taoiseach. Currently he serves as Deputy PM that is the Tánaiste  . One good outcome of the anti-vaxx mob was that Ireland's diverse parties united across right and left of the spectrum to condemn the bigotry of the protestors. Mary Lou McDonald from Sinn Fein said “The homophobic, bigoted intimidation witnesses at the home of Leo Varadkar today is outrageous and shameful”. For the Social Democratic Party, Gary Gannon TD said “Blatant homophobia has no place in our Republic and should be confronted wherever it occurs.” Centre right party Fine Gael's Simon Harris remarked ““Sickening, repulsive, disgusting behaviour outside the home of Leo Varadkar and [his partner] Matt. It has no place in a democracy, must be condemned by all & called out for what it is. Efforts to dehumanise politicians contributes to this. Vile on so many levels.” Adam Long for the National LGBT Federation in Ireland reported “The role of social media platforms in fermenting far-right extremism also cannot be overlooked – a point that featured in all three of our Pride series interviews with the main party leaders last June.”