Anti-Gay Congressman Tom Cotton Advertises on Grindr

Tom Cotton's campaign ad on gay hook-up app Grindr. — Tom Cotton’s campaign ad on gay hook-up app Grindr.

In-app advertising is usually brilliant. Sometimes it’s awkward. And then there are times when it’s really awkward.

Arkansas Republican Congressman and Senate candidate Tom Cotton has a campaign advertisement on Grindr, a hook-up app for gay men. The ad appears to be sponsored by the National Rifle Association.

Normally, I would applaud any politician for running ads such as this. Cast as large a net for voters as possible, I say. But Cotton has demonstrated again and again his stance against practically everything LGBT. Cotton is a supporter of DOMA and traditional marriage. Last May, he responded to a constituent who wrote the Congressman asking for his support of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, that the legislation would impose “undue burdens on freedom of religion and association.”

The nefarious National Organization for Marriage, a conservative group fighting marriage equality, is also running TV ads in support of Cotton, the Arkansas Times reported yesterday.

Beyond rights for LGBT Americans, Cotton has also voted against such things as the Violence Against Women Act.

Cotton, endorsed by several Tea Party groups, is running in a very tight race against incumbent Mark Pryor, a Democrat.

TheBlot Magazine reached out to both GRINDR and the Cotton campaign. Neither have responded as of press time.

Brock Thompson is a contributing journalist for TheBlot Magazine.