Mississippi Republican Called ‘Groomer’ Defends Pink Tutu Outfit

A Republican lawmaker in Mississippi has come under attack for a photo that has circulated of him wearing pink. Some critics expressed concern about state Sen. Jeremy England in a pink costume. However, according to him, he wore the “very embarrassing” outfit to raise money for breast cancer research.

The photo shows him wearing a lustrous pink bodysuit and a satiny pink tutu. In response, some people called England a “groomer,” the false anti-LGBTQ+ slur. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, England claimed he was “being bullied” and receiving threats for his image.

The snap was taken at a 2020 fundraiser for Men Wear Pink, during which England posed for a photo, he said. The event benefits the American Cancer Society.

“I have no shame in the pictures being shared, I only wish it was being shared to help raise money for breast cancer awareness as intended,” he wrote.

There is a tense GOP primary underway in Mississippi at the moment. In the race for the state’s second-highest office, England supports Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for reelection. The pink image with the caption, “Hosemann and his groomer weirdos,” was tweeted and then deleted by someone supporting Hosemann’s opponent, the Associated Press reported.

“I consider that to be some of the worst, dirty form of politics — which is, of course, where we are now in this race,” England told the AP.

Right-wingers have been using the word “groomer” as a smear to accuse LGBTQ+ people — or anyone ignoring gender norms, such as England by wearing only pink — of encouraging pedophilia.

England has used the smear campaign against him and Hosemann to raise money for breast cancer. Following the viral photo campaign in Mississippi, England launched another Men Wear Pink online fundraiser to raise more funds for breast cancer research. The campaign has raised more than $6,000.