Sao Paulo: Two acquaintances of US Representative George Santos told Reuters on Wednesday that he participated in drag queen competitions in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, adding to the contrasts that have drawn criticism of the openly gay Republican congressman's vehemently conservative views. Other New York Republicans have urged the troubled freshman congressman to resign due to lies about his background and career.
In 2005, at the first gay pride parade in Niteroi, a Rio de Janeiro suburb, a 58-year-old Brazilian performer going by the drag name Eula Rochard claimed she met the now-congressman while he was dressed as a woman. Three years later, according to Rochard, Santos participated in a drag beauty pageant in Rio.
The 34-year-old congressman, according to a Niteroi resident who asked to remain anonymous and knew him, competed in drag queen pageants and wanted to be Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro.
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Accusations "that I am a drag Queen or have 'performed' as a drag Queen" are "categorically false," the congressman wrote on Twitter on Thursday. He continued, "I will not be distracted nor fazed by this."
Santos has established himself as a steadfast conservative on a number of social issues despite being the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat in Congress as a non-incumbent.
He supported Florida's contentious "Parental Rights in Education" law, also known as the "don't say gay" law, which forbids students from discussing their sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.
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Republicans are increasingly criticising drag performances and shows, claiming that they are bad for kids.
"I am openly gay, have never had an issue with my sexual identity in the past decade, and I can tell you and assure you, I will always be an advocate for LGBTQ folks," Santos said in response to criticism of his support for the Florida law in October, according to USA Today.
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In 2005, the congressman, according to Rochard, was a "poor" drag queen wearing a plain black dress; however, in 2008, "he came back to Niteroi with a lot of money," and a flashy pink dress to prove it. Santos entered a drag beauty pageant that year under the drag alias Kitara Ravache, but she came in last, according to Rochard. Despite his many changes, he has always been a liar. He was such a dreamer all the time, Rochard said.