U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert has been making headlines recently — and not for the usual reasons. The far-right congresswoman has made a name for herself over the past few years as an avid supporter of gun rights and QAnon, as well as a staunch opponent of LGBTQ+ rights. Although Boebert has repeatedly utilized “grooming” rhetoric, implying that LGBTQ+ people are inherently predatory toward children, she herself was busted for inappropriate behavior in a family-friendly environment (where children were indeed present!) recently. Read on for everything you need to know about Boebert’s behavior, and the subsequent fallout.
What did Lauren Boebert do?
On September 10, the Colorado representative was in the audience for a performance of the Beetlejuice musical at Denver’s Buell Theatre when she was kicked out for disruptive behavior. The behavior included vaping, singing along, and taking flash photos during the performance, per the Denver Post. Boebert and her date were also caught on video groping each other in the theater, with Boebert appearing to fondle his crotch and her date grabbing her breast.
After several complaints from audience members, Boebert and her date were escorted out of the venue, though they resisted leaving. According to the Denver Post, Boebert said “Do you know who I am?” and “I will be contacting the mayor.”
How did Lauren Boebert respond?
At first, Boebert’s campaign manager, Drew Sexton, denied that she had been vaping during the show. (Clear video evidence would later prove this was false.) In an initial statement to the Post, Sexton wrote, “I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a weekend performance of Beetlejuice.”
Boebert changed her tune on September 15, issuing an apology and statement to multiple media outlets including the Colorado Sun. While she didn't admit to any specific behavior, she did pin the blame in part on her recent divorce from her husband of 18 years. “There’s no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce, which over the past few months has made for a challenging personal time for me and my entire family,” Boebert wrote. “I’ve tried to handle it with strength and grace as best I can, but I simply fell short of my values on Sunday. That’s unacceptable and I’m sorry.”
Who was Lauren Boebert’s date?
British tabloid The Daily Mail revealed the identity of Boebert’s date as Quinn Gallagher, a registered Democrat who co-owns Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen. That detail would otherwise be unremarkable if it weren’t for the fact that the bar has hosted drag shows in the past. Boebert has repeatedly railed against drag, especially shows where children are present.
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