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Accusations against Roy Moore just added fuel to the LGBT community's fire | Opinion

This past week brought numerous victories for the LGBT community - from electing the first openly black transgender politician to Seattle electing its first lesbian mayor. If the accusations against Moore lead to his defeat, and possibly the end of his political career, it could be their next.

Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 1979.
Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 1979.Read moreBrynn Anderson / AP

There may be no more bigger critic of Senate candidate Roy Moore and his beliefs than the LGBT community.

And the feeling is reciprocated. The former Alabama Supreme Court judge thinks homosexuality should be illegal, comparing it to bestiality and calling it a "crime against nature."

Alabama's gay community has been speaking out against Moore and his politics for years, prior to his attempt to go to Washington. His Senate run has given the community even more reason to be vocal.

In September, Eva Kendrick, Alabama state director for the Human Rights Campaign, said Moore has no place trying to represent the state's citizens in the nation's capital:

"'Given Roy Moore's track record of flouting laws and attacking the civil rights of LGBTQ people across our state, we already know he won't stand up for all Alabamians when it matters most. In the run-up to Dec. 12, we urge every fair-minded person across Alabama to say #NoMoore and reject the politics of bigotry and hate.'"

Given Moore's views on homosexuality, members of the LGBT community were among the loudest voices against the Republican following a Washington Post report that Moore allegedly initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old:

"Days later, she says, he picked her up around the corner from her house in Gadsden, drove her about 30 minutes to his home in the woods, told her how pretty she was and kissed her. On a second visit, she says, he took off her shirt and pants and removed his clothes. He touched her over her bra and underpants, she says, and guided her hand to touch him over his underwear.
"Aside from Corfman, three other women interviewed by The Washington Post in recent weeks say Moore pursued them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his early 30s, episodes they say they found flattering at the time, but troubling as they got older. None of the three women say that Moore forced them into any sort of relationship or sexual contact."

Human Rights Campaign chair Chad Griffin tweeted that the allegations are just the latest reason for voters to reject the evangelical Senate candidate.

Liberal author and activist Sally Kohn, who is gay, pointed out the double standard from some conservative pundits on Moore. The same day the Post published its Moore story, the New York Times reported sexual misconduct allegations against comedian Louis C.K.

Democratic Coalition chairman Jon Cooper used the accusations against Moore to urge voters to support Democrat Doug Jones.

This past week brought numerous victories for the LGBT community — from electing the first openly black transgender politician to Seattle electing its first lesbian mayor. If the accusations against Moore lead to his defeat, and possibly the end of his political career, it could be their next.

Eugene Scott writes about identity politics for the Fix. He was previously a breaking news reporter at CNN Politics. He is a Washington  native. @Eugene_Scott This piece originally appeared in the Washington Post.