During the final, frenzied hours of the 2016 election, both candidates are making their final pleas to supporters, while average citizens implore their friends, family, and social media circles to get out and cast their ballots. But one Twitter hashtag intended to encourage Christians to vote for Donald Trump has been taken over by progressive Christians who say their faith calls them to stand up for the marginalized and the oppressed, and to reject the categorical hatred that this year’s GOP nominee has built his campaign upon.
Originally started by the right-wing, anti-LGBT National Religious Broadcasters, the hashtag #ChristiansVote was intended to amplify faithful support for the so-called traditional values that some claim the Trump campaign, and the Republican Party in general, stand for. (Nevermind that the GOP candidate routinely violates many of the central edicts of the “traditional values” crowd, from his three separate marriages, to his alleged sexual assault of women, to his flip-flopping stance on abortion, to his well-documented tendency to lie, cheat, and swindle those who’ve entered into business with him.)
The hashtag was co-opted by Believe Out Loud, a nonpartisan campaign that elevates pro-LGBT voices within faith communities. The nonprofit launched its hashtag hijack on Wednesday, exactly one week before Election Day.
The Christian Right is running a #ChristiansVote campaign to mobilize voters.
Join us all week to make it clear #ChristiansVote 4 justice!
— Believe Out Loud (@BelieveOutLoud) November 2, 2016
Consider the tweets below a form of self-care, and a gentle reminder that people really can be good, tolerant, and loving, despite the vitriol that surrounds us.
1)
#ChristiansVote because we believe that Jesus Christ preached unconditional love, regardless of race, sexuality, gender, and even religion.
— Liam Youngblood (@UAB_Shoob) November 1, 2016
2)
#ChristiansVote in support of LGBTQI folks, immigrants, and refugees, because we are called to #LoveThyNeighbor (no exceptions)
— maco (@maco_nix) November 3, 2016
3)
My trust in women extends from my faith. Grateful for those who support #reproductivejustice as core part of their faith #ChristiansVote
— LizWelch (@LizWelchLive) November 3, 2016
4)
#ChristiansVote because we love our neighbors, no matter what they look like, where they're from, language they speak, or who they love
— Janet Adair Hansen (@revdrjanet) November 5, 2016
5)
I am a Christian and I refuse to let my religion be weaponized to harm the most marginalized of us any longer. #ChristiansVote @SoulforceOrg
— Rev. Jeremy Smith (@umjeremy) November 2, 2016
6)
#ChristiansVote to protect the human rights of ALL of God's children? #ImWithHer
— Leah Rullman✨ (@leahrullman) November 6, 2016
7)
#christiansvote Because we are called to love… https://t.co/jmfrENLtrA
— Evelyn Shoop (@EvelynShoop) November 6, 2016
8)
#ChristiansVote #FaithfullyLGBT Because God accepts us even when our churches don't!
— Non-Meta Stephen (@stvp68) November 6, 2016
9)
I believe in LGBTQI rights and affirmation, #blacklivesmatter, #justice for all #ChristiansVote https://t.co/E0poNKJ7iJ
— kristyn arnold (@kmarnold) November 6, 2016
10)
As of 2014, ppl of faith that support LGBTQ ppl outnumber those that don't. We need to shift the narrative! #faithfulvoters #ChristiansVote pic.twitter.com/TjF4S9mvp5
— TaskForceActionFund (@lgbtqtaskforce) November 5, 2016
