Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate owned by former President Donald Trump, has come under scrutiny from conservative circles following its hosting of a same-sex marriage.
John Sullivan, the vice chair and treasurer of the Tennessee Log Cabin Republicans, tied the knot with his husband Dan Medora at Mar-a-Lago on February 23. This joyful union was shared on Instagram by the organization, which represents and supports LGBTQ+ Republicans.
The Log Cabins Republicans of Tennessee expressed their delight in an Instagram post about the wedding of John Sullivan and Dmedo at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, FL. They described the event as an unforgettable celebration of love and style that will be cherished forever. The organization thanked the couple for the amazing weekend they had.
In a statement to Newsweek, Sullivan expressed his admiration for the wedding venue, describing it as one of the most breathtaking locations in the world. He commended the Mar-a-Lago team for their inclusivity and expressed how everyone had an incredible time at the event.
“It was truly a privilege and an honor to have our guests join us at the event. The experience was nothing short of perfect, filled with a touch of magic that exceeded all our expectations. Both our guests and ourselves will forever treasure this incredibly special time that we were able to share together,” he expressed with heartfelt gratitude.
Tensions within the GOP were underscored as some social conservatives expressed anger over Trump’s property hosting a same-sex wedding.
Trump has positioned himself as the “most supportive president” for the LGBTQ+ community in American history. Unlike other Republicans, he has occasionally employed less conservative language when discussing LGBTQ+ issues, although his policies have been criticized for potentially eroding their rights. This more tempered approach has generated some doubt among religious and conservative voters within the GOP.
Despite facing criticism from certain conservatives, the majority of Americans, including approximately half of Republicans, are in favor of same-sex marriage. According to a Gallup poll conducted in June 2023, a staggering 71 percent of Americans support the right for same-sex couples to marry.
Among Republicans, the figure stood at 49 percent. It is worth noting that the GOP platform from 2016, which has not been revised in 2020, explicitly states that U.S. laws and government regulations should acknowledge marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
“Vote for Trump because he will uphold our values.. Ughhhh.. errr.. Nevermind…” expressed Russ Segner, a supporter of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Despite DeSantis’ initial rise to national prominence due to his stance on right-wing social issues, he eventually withdrew from the GOP presidential primary as he faced challenges in gaining momentum in early-voting states.
In response to conservative criticism regarding their wedding, Sullivan expressed that he and Medora acknowledge and appreciate the perspectives of conservatives who do not endorse same-sex marriage.
“We do acknowledge that there are also individuals within the Democrat party who hold similar views. Nonetheless, we greatly value both individual and religious freedoms. We firmly believe that there is ample common ground that we share with our fellow Americans, allowing us to work together and make significant strides on important matters such as bolstering border security, bringing an end to foreign conflicts, and achieving energy independence. These issues remain at the top of our priority list,” he expressed.
Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign via email for comment. In the past, Mar-a-Lago has hosted various LGBTQ+ events, such as the Log Cabin Republicans’ Spirit of Lincoln gala in 2022. Trump delivered a speech during the event, and former First Lady Melania Trump received an award.