--- [ LGBTQ ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=380) # A MAGA Republican Is Facing Off With A Progressive Dem For A Seat In Congress. They’re Both Gay September 22 2022 Written by Molly Sprayregen. LGBTQ POLITICS - In a historic first for the country, two gay candidates are running against each other in a general election for Congress – and they are absolute polar opposites. In New York’s 3rd district, which includes a large swath of Long Island and parts of Queens, Progressive Democrat Robert Zimmerman (left photo) is facing off against Trump-loving Republican George Santos (right photo). Zimmerman is running on a platform of LGBTQ equality, access to abortion, affordable health care, and gun violence prevention. A member of the Democratic National Committee, he has been fighting to take corporate money out of politics and demolish the superdelegate system. As a closeted kid in the 70s, he was told by a trusted adult he should try conversion therapy. He never did, but has said the suggestion fueled his fire to become a political activist. Santos, on the other hand, supports Donald Trump, [has said](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/long-island-congressional-candidate-george-santos-compared-reproductive-rights-to-slavery/ar-AA11Hkwv) abortion is as barbaric as slavery, and [has voiced support](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=526839605510784) for Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. He attended the January 6th “Stop the Steal” rally that led to the storming of the U.S. Capitol and was recently [caught on video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_dkuFEwqmA) saying he wrote a “nice check” to help cover the legal fees of some of the rioters. Santos [has denied](https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/09/21/in-first-gay-democrat-and-gay-republican-face-off-in-congressional-race/) supporting the lie that President Biden stole the 2020 election from Donald Trump. Santos’s official platform is focused on battling inflation, crime, and energy costs. In 2020, he [called himself](https://theislandnow.com/rop/recovered-from-covid-santos-a-walking-living-breathing-contradiction/) “a walking, living, breathing contradiction” and said he was “more fiscally conservative but socially liberal.” He also tweeted that his sexuality has nothing to do with the issues and lambasted his liberal critics for “play\[ing\] identity politics” and calling him a “‘misguided self hating gay.”‘ Despite their completely opposing ideologies, whoever wins will make history as the first out LGBTQ member of Congress from Long Island. The seat is considered crucial to Democrats as they fight to keep their majority in the House. According to LGBTQ Victory Fund Deputy Political Director Cesar Toledo, Zimmerman is a frontrunner in the race due to recent redistricting that has caused the area to lean Democratic. “Biden won this seat by eight points, so Robert Zimmerman is highly favored and poised to increase LGBTQ representation in Congress,” Toledo said. Victory Fund has endorsed Zimmerman. “When reproductive rights and LGBTQ freedoms are under direct assault, Long Island voters know that they can trust someone like Robert Zimmerman,” Toledo said, “and we are proud and enthusiastic to be supportive of someone who has lifelong record championing pro-equality and pro-choice issues…Candidates to be endorsed by our organization must support LGBTQ rights and reproductive freedom, and George clearly doesn’t meet that criteria.” *(Molly Sprayregen is a queer writer. Her work can be found in Out Magazine, Them, Into Magazine, The Associated Press, LGBTQ Nation, Roxane Gay's Gay Magazine, and more. More info at MollySpray.com. This story was featured in LTBTQ Nation.)* [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad") [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1") [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![David DeJute Campaign](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/DejuteAd.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign") [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)") [ ![Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/reitano%20vertical%20rework.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col") ### Exploring LA With Nick Cabot Rodriguez ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Name [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") [ ![Spa](https://www.citywatchla.com/images//ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental2%208-11-26.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/109 "Me Dental Spa") [ ![Cheap Gas](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/cheap-gas2-10-24.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/96 "Home - Cheap Gas") [ ![Neighborhood Council Map](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/nc-map-graphic.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/89 "Home - Neighborhood Council Map") [ ![Neighborhood Council Meetings Here](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/NewsPromos/nc-meeting%20banner.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/90 "Home - Neighborhood Council Meetings Here") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8c/074h-8ccaaf79.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33349:l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up&catid=312) ### [L.A. County Faces a Government Shake-Up](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33349:l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up&catid=312) WESTSIDE - Currently larger than 40 states in terms of population with roughly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4d/073e-4dc54bff.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33336:may-day-international-workers-day-a-major-us-holiday-ignored-by-the-media&catid=398) ### [May Day/International Workers Day, a Major US Holiday Ignored By The Media](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33336:may-day-international-workers-day-a-major-us-holiday-ignored-by-the-media&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - Monday, September 7, 2026, was Labor Day, a holiday only celebrated in the United States and Canada as… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/17/074g-17fdff1c.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33346:before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves&catid=375) ### [Before We Ask God to Judge Us, the Jewish People Must Judge Ourselves](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33346:before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves&catid=375) Yom Kippur demands more than personal repentance. At a defining moment for Jews everywhere, it asks whether we have tru… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/09/073i-0998df2d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33330:cd3-doesnt-need-another-promise-it-needs-a-councilmember-who-can-deliver&catid=401) ### [CD3 Doesn’t Need Another Promise It Needs a Councilmember Who Can Deliver](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33330:cd3-doesnt-need-another-promise-it-needs-a-councilmember-who-can-deliver&catid=401) THE BOTTOM LINE - Los Angeles voters have heard the promises before: safer streets, cleaner neighborhoods, more housing… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/12/073d-1253ced3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33338:quid-pro-no&catid=378) ### [QUID PRO NO](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33338:quid-pro-no&catid=378) MY VIEW - Quid pro quo: Latin for “this for that.” English for “bribe.” In Assemblymember Schiavo-speak: quid pro no—“N… --- ## [ LGBTQ ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=380) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/074n2.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33356:the-laurel-foundation-launches-the-art-of-online-auction-to-benefit-programs-for-lgbtq-youth-and-families&catid=380)### [The Laurel Foundation Launches THE ART OF\_ Online Auction to Benefit Programs for LGBTQ+ Youth and Families](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33356:the-laurel-foundation-launches-the-art-of-online-auction-to-benefit-programs-for-lgbtq-youth-and-families&catid=380) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/071e2.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33296:34-years-after-camp-laurel-began-for-kids-with-hiv-its-first-campers-return-with-children-of-their-own&catid=380)### [34 Years After Camp Laurel Began for Kids With HIV, Its First Campers Return With Children of Their Own](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33296:34-years-after-camp-laurel-began-for-kids-with-hiv-its-first-campers-return-with-children-of-their-own&catid=380) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Mar-2026/025h.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32477:attacks-on-transgender-women-are-part-of-a-larger-maga-agenda&catid=380)### [Attacks on Transgender Women Are Part of a Larger MAGA Agenda](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32477:attacks-on-transgender-women-are-part-of-a-larger-maga-agenda&catid=380) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/013r.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32267:pride-flag-returns-to-stonewall-as-new-york-officials-defy-federal-directive&catid=380)### [Pride Flag Returns to Stonewall as New York Officials Defy Federal Directive](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32267:pride-flag-returns-to-stonewall-as-new-york-officials-defy-federal-directive&catid=380) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/012f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32245:california-lgbtq-community-still-worried-for-transgender-youth&catid=380)### [California LGBTQ Community Still Worried For Transgender Youth](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32245:california-lgbtq-community-still-worried-for-transgender-youth&catid=380)