Watch: Kellyanne Conway Honored by LGBTQ+ Political Group — and Her Own Queer Daughter
Kellyanne Conway is a big name in conservative circles, having been an adviser to — and apologist for — former president Donald Trump and a personality at Fox News. But she's also a hero to her queer teenaged daughter, Claudia.
The 19-year-old "introduced her mother at the Spirit of Lincoln Gala, where her mother had been named as this year's Spirit of Lincoln Award recipient" by conservative LGBTQ+ group the Log Cabin Republicans, Newsweek reported.
"Claudia Conway, her daughter with ex-husband and Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway, emerged in 2020 as a vocal critic of Trump and his presidency, despite her mother's positions," Newsweek noted. The report added that she has continued to speak out against conservative aims and policies, including the Supreme Court's rolling back of women's reproductive freedoms.
But despite "a tumultuous period in her relationship with her mother," Newsweek reported, Claudia "proudly shared video footage of herself introducing her mom at Saturday's Spirit of Lincoln Gala, which was held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California."
"Tagging her mother's account on X, formerly Twitter, the younger Conway wrote that she was 'honored to introduce my mommy tonight @KellyannePolls,'" Newsweek detailed.
In video included with the tweet, Claudia can be heard saying, "In a world where the political climate has become harsh and divisive, coming out as gay was something that I feared." Her anxieties included "not being accepted by my family and my community — but that was very far from the truth."
Claudia continued: "In the words of my mother, 'I don't care if you're with a girl or Mickey Mouse, as long as you get your ass up for school.'"
Newsweek recalled that Claudia told Bustle in 2022 how, as she was growing up, "I was taught that Democrats are killing babies and gay marriage is not OK," but once she realized at about age 11 that she was queer, she let her mother know she wasn't keen on marrying a man.
" ...'What is wrong with you?'" Claudia said was her mother's response. Her reply, she added, was "I'm just gay. Nothing wrong. I'm just gay."
Another coming out moment took place at the dinner table. "My brother and I were bickering back and forth, like siblings do," Claudia told Bustle. "And I said something along the lines [of] 'You're just mad that I get more girls than you do.'"
Though she accepts her daughter — and has depicted Donald Trump as a supporter of marriage equality — Kellyanne Conway was, however, quick to join the right-wing chorus suggesting that the centuries-old theatrical art of drag is somehow a danger to children. Conway slammed Democrats for supposedly "inviting drag queens to the people's house as a representation of what their values are," Newsweek recalled.
"Parents, you have every right to speak up, show up, put up and stand up," Conway declared, going on to add that "our kids are the future. They're our most precious resource."
Drag queens, especially the ones who show up for Drag Story Hours, would most likely agree.
As for Claudia's perspective on the question, Newsweek recalled that she told Bustle, "I would have much rather, when I was 6 years old, met a drag queen than a priest."
"Growing up queer, I would've loved to learn about it and see representation of somebody like myself."