Former Trump official Anthony Scaramucci: I’m a gay rights activist

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Anthony Scaramucci, who served a ten-day term as Donald Trump’s Communications Director, has insisted he’s a “gay rights activist”.

The wealthy financier came to prominence last month when he was appointed and then later dismissed as White House Communications Director.

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But The Mooch has insisted he was “misrepresented” by the media during his time under Trump.

Speaking to TMZ, he said: “I have, for the last decade, been an active gay rights and marriage equality supporter, particularly here in New York City but [also] around the world.

“I think that when they wrote ‘life, liberty , and the pursuit of happiness’, it wasn’t just meant for straight people. For me, I’m a very active gay rights supporter.

“In addition to that, even though I’m a Roman Catholic and I believe in a right to life, I would never impose those values on other people.

“I’m actually very socially inclusive as a human being, and I’m a Republican because I believe that you need free market principles to create class mobility.”

Asked if the President shared his views, Scaramucci said: “I can’t speak for him. I can only speak for myself.”

During his time in the White House, Scaramucci gained notoriety as a hothead after telling a journalist that White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was “trying to suck his own c**k”.

We’re not too sure how being a ‘gay rights’ activist gels with getting into bed with the Trump administration as officials argued against discrimination protections for gay people.

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While Scaramucci was serving under Trump, the Justice Department filed a legal brief arguing against legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The move, in court papers filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, confirmed a U-turn from the Obama administration, which had often used amicus briefs to intervene in court cases in favour of LGBT rights protections.

The Trump-era Justice Department instead intervened in a discrimination case to argue that civil rights laws should not protect gay workers from discrimination.

The department, led by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, argued that the 1964 Civil Rights Act – which outlaws discrimination based on a number of characteristics – does not provide any protections for gay people, despite outlawing sex-based discrimination.

Before Trump came to power, Scaramucci claimed he would “be the first American president in US history that enters the White House with a pro-gay rights stance.”

He had claimed: “Elton John is going to be doing our concert on the mall for the inauguration!”

A representative for Sir Elton shut down the official, confirming: “Elton will not be performing at Trump’s inauguration.”

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