Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) is facing backlash after a social media post in which he compared himself to Pennywise, the child-murdering clown from Stephen King’s horror novel It. The self-described ‘gayest member of Congress’ shared an image of the character with the caption, ‘when they go low this is me,’ drawing swift condemnation online.
‘Creepy and Absurd’ Comparison
Critics on X (formerly Twitter) called the comparison disturbing, given Pennywise’s fictional portrayal as a predator who lures children into sewers to feed on their fear. ‘So, you’re a murderous clown waiting to take school-age boys to a sewer… and we thought Swalwell was a perv,’ one user wrote. Another added, ‘The most honest thing coming out of the Democrat Party… A self-proclaimed demonic clown!’
Garcia’s ‘Gayest’ Claim
Garcia, who is openly gay, previously declared himself the ‘absolute gayest’ member of Congress during an LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference last year. ‘I am one of 12 LGBTQ+ members of the U.S. House right now, but I am the gayest of all of us,’ he said at the time.
Democrats Celebrate ‘Gayest Congress’
The controversy comes as the Congressional Equality Caucus recently celebrated what it called the ‘Gayest Congress in American History’ following Democratic midterm election wins. The group shared a post featuring a rainbow behind the U.S. Capitol Dome, writing, ‘The 120th Congress will officially be the GAYEST Congress in history! (that we know of).’
Broader Culture War Context
Garcia’s post also reignited debates over Democratic policies on LGBTQ+ issues, including past pushes for ‘gender-affirming care’ for minors and drag queen story hours—practices that have drawn fierce opposition from conservatives. Under the Biden administration, Health and Human Services official Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, declared summer 2023 a ‘summer of pride’ and endorsed medical interventions for gender-dysphoric youth as ‘medically necessary.’
Critics argue such policies harm children, while supporters frame them as vital protections for LGBTQ+ rights. Garcia’s Pennywise quip—intended as a joke about political combat—has instead fueled further polarization in an already heated cultural divide.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/11/09/gayest-member-of-congress-robert-garcia-compares-himself-to-murderous-clown-who-targets-children/