rights
Republican candidate says giraffes prove “You cannot be born gay"
By Greg Owen at LGBTQ Nation
· July 8, 2026
· 3 min read
A Republican candidate for Congress offered up his analysis of human sexuality and gender on Tuesday, in a group interview with South Florida's Sun-Sentinel editorial board, alongside two other Republicans running to represent House District 20 in Broward County. "You never see a giraffe, a male gir
Key takeaway "You never see a giraffe, a male giraffe, that mate(s) with a giraffe," Rod Joseph said.
Why this matters
The Republican candidate's assertion that individuals cannot be born gay, citing animal behavior as evidence, is a claim that has been debunked by scientific observations of same-sex behaviors in over 1,500 animal species. This stance is particularly notable given the candidate's bid to represent House District 20 in Broward County, which includes Wilton Manors, a city with a significant LGBTQ+ population. The candidate's absence of outreach to the LGBTQ+ community, despite targeting other demographic groups, raises questions about his campaign's commitment to representing all constituents. Furthermore, his views on sexuality as a preference rather than a biological orientation are at odds with the prevailing scientific consensus and may have implications for his policy positions on LGBTQ+ rights. As the campaign progresses, it will be worth watching how the candidate's views on LGBTQ+ issues are received by voters in the district.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LGBTQ Nation . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: rights ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more LGBTQ News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering rights and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Republican candidate for Congress offered up his analysis of human sexuality and gender on Tuesday, in a group interview with South Florida's Sun-Sentinel editorial board, alongside two other Republicans running to represent House District 20 in Broward County. "You never see a giraffe, a male gir
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Greg Owen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .