Photos of Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) donning a yellow wig and a flowing skirt are creating a stir on social media, sparking accusations of hypocrisy amid the conservative movement’s ongoing fight against drag shows.
The images, which surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), have garnered significant attention due to their timing and context.
The first photo, shared on Sunday afternoon, shows a blurry image of Vance in a black T-shirt and a playful necklace, standing next to red Solo cups and what seems to be a kitchen countertop edge. This image was first posted by podcaster Matt Bernstein.
A second, clearer photo appeared on Monday morning, depicting Vance in a similar outfit, voguing in a Polaroid while holding a dark blue handbag and looking down at the camera. A person in the background is dressed in a white skirt with an exposed midriff.
Bernstein, host of the podcast “A Bit Fruity,” mentioned that the photo was sent to him by a friend who received it from Travis Whitfill, a biotech entrepreneur and adjunct professor at Yale School of Medicine.
Whitfill confirmed to the Daily Beast that the photos were taken at a Halloween party in 2012, around the time when Vance was attending Yale Law School.
While Whitfill’s comments support the authenticity of the photos, he has not responded to additional questions from the Daily Dot about their origin. The Daily Dot has not independently verified the images.
A spokesperson for Vance did not dispute that the photos feature him but chose not to comment further.
The release of these images comes amid a broader conservative campaign against the transgender community, including efforts to legislate against drag performances.
In 2023, Ohio House Republicans backed a bill criminalizing drag queen story hours by classifying them as adult cabaret performances, part of a wider trend in at least 14 states with similar proposed legislation.
Vance has been outspoken against gender-affirming care and trans rights, including recent criticism of his opponent, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), for supporting these issues. Consequently, the photos have led to accusations of hypocrisy against Vance.
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