When Queer Narratives Become A Weapon: The Dangerous False Queering of the Obamas

The rise of social media has inevitably altered our access to information, how we share knowledge, and where narratives may circulate. This is especially true for political news. A recent Statista report revealed that social media is now one of the main ways the average person seeks political information and knowledge. As an award-winning debate coach with over 15+ years of experience, including 10+ years of coaching in high school and college, I am almost immune to outlandish arguments and attacks, especially in the political sphere. I often force myself to properly and equally assess each side of an argument-seeing the grey, even if others only see black and white. However, in the past month, even I was floored by a series of absurd accusations that have spread like a California wildfire on social media. Sadly,  purposeful misinformation provides ample fuel and kindling for the fire of ignorance to blaze on.

What is the outrageous falsehood?  Barack Obama is queer, and Michelle Obama is a transwoman. Not only is this rhetoric and misinformation dangerous, considering the escalated rates of homophobic and transphobic violence, but it also is a calculated form of toxic misinformation designed to discredit queerness as an identity, and it is a lazy attack that uses queerness as a target for hate. Even if these rumors were true, the intentional and calculated outing of someone is harmful, and sets a dangerous precedent going forward.

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WASHINGTON - JUNE 29: US President Barack Obama with the first lady Michelle Obama next to him gives speech from the East Room of the White House June 29, 2009 in Washington, DC (Image by: K2 Images)

The False Queering Of The Obama’s

#1: Barack

 Although Obama had no major scandals, this obviously did not stop the rumor mill from running rampant. Initially, Obama was blasted with lies and conspiracy theories about his citizenship as the birther movement took hold in 2008. When this did not work, a new strategy was implemented-question Obama’s sexuality. This conspiracy recently was propelled into the spotlight again when Obama’s half-brother, Malik Obama, posted a Twitter thread calling his brother a “faggot.”  Usually, this would fly under the radar like the millions of other tweets that sit at the intersection of #Obama and hate. But this time was different because someone had recently uncovered previous letters that vividly described the former President’s “gay sex fantasies.”  

The alleged letter is from his college girlfriend, Alex McNear, and the letter is currently being held at Emory University, but the contents have been supposedly transcribed. Some parts can be found at the New York Post. The letter supposedly contains a treasure trove of information. For example, when discussing homosexuality, Obama alluded to it being an escape from reality, writing,  “You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination.”

Then, came an “explosive tell-all interview featuring Tucker Carlson and Larry Sinclair, Obama’s alleged secret gay lover from the past. The man has largely been discredited in more ways than one.

“Even if these rumors were true, the intentional and calculated outing of someone is harmful, and sets a dangerous precedent going forward.”

 #2: Michelle

A spotless record and Ivy League degrees have also not been enough to shield Michelle Obama from misinformation and ignorance. But her attacks are not related to her sexuality; instead, it is the constant questioning of her womanhood and feminity  as individuals falsely claim Michelle Obama is a transgender woman. Homophobia and transphobia are like thunder and lightning: closely related phenomena in the same storm, but distinct in their nature and impact. Michelle Obama certainly is in a tornado filled of hate and falsehoods.

In 2014, Joan Rivers caused a stir when the late comedian called Barack gay and Michelle transgender, stating “you know Michelle is a trans.”  In 2016, Michelle Obama was called a man and “ape in heels” . In 2020, a Facebook post that read ““How many of you still don't know that Michelle Obama was born Michael Lavaughn Robinson and is a man.became popular. The post was shared millions of times despite PolitiFact rating it “pants on fire” the worst rating on its Truth-O-Meter. Even a Congressperson purposely shared this lie.

These attacks are not old. There are countless recent examples. In 2022, a fake video featuring Amazon Alexa “confirming Michelle’s real name” was debunked. In February 2023, it was rumored that government documents revealed Michelle’s true identity. It was false.  Additionally, as if this were not enough, Michelle is often ridiculed as a Black woman  as proponents often point to her height, strength, and build as "proof", with some critics even circulating fake images and  photographs to prove their point.

Why is this dangerous?

Conspiracy theories can profoundly influence public perceptions, even when unfounded. They can also cause clear and tangible harm. For example, recently, a cisgender woman, Michelle Dionne Peacock, was murdered after someone thought she was transgender. Sadly, these unwarranted attacks are a part of larger culture wars in the United States.

I do not believe these are haphazard or unclear attacks; instead, I wholeheartedly believe they fit into a larger narrative to discredit the legacy of the Obama’s, and it also frames the couple as dishonest, morally bankrupt and falsely queer. For some demographics, if true, the latter could be enough to spark ridicule and violence. Even if not subjected to violence, a false label of queerness can certainly be enough to remove someone’s credibility and/or trust.

Thus, labeling the Obama’s as queer is horrifically dangerous because Far Right groups are purposely attacking the queer community.  It purposely frames the former President and First Lady as deviant and unworthy of support and protection. This type of false queer narrative at the national level could have disastrous effects if continued. Let’s take this outside of a large scale, national and political context. Outing someone against their will is never a sign of support or solidarity. It is a form of violence.

“This type of false queer narrative at the national level could have disastrous effects if continued. Let’s take this outside of a large scale, national and political context. Outing someone against their will is never a sign of support or solidarity. It is a form of violence.”

What about Barack’s letter?

Outing someone's sexuality is like revealing someone's private diary to the world without their consent, while falsely labeling someone as gay is like attributing to them a fictional story they never wrote. Both actions breach trust and distort the true narrative of an individual's life. Both are also not necessarily the public’s concern or business.

Some believe Obama’s letter to his ex girlfriend is a slam dunk. I think people are playing the wrong sport entirely.

First, let’s assume the letter is authentic and was written by Barack. On one hand, it is important to remember that these were intimate thoughts between a young couple; it is unethical to magnify private thoughts in a public sphere. Imagine if someone were to unearth your text messages or e-mails from one of your first adult relationships and use that as the anchor of your current identity. And then that random ex from nearly 40 years ago publicized that controversy.

Second, even if true, the assumption that Obama is queer assumes that one paragraph in one letter at one time in one’s young adult life dictates sexuality. It assumes thought = action. Assumes that fantasy=fact.  If we invert the logic, many men who identify as gay may have fantasized about or even engaged in intercourse with a woman in their early 20s, would we now classify them as hetereosexual? Likely not. This faulty logic also assumes that something written on paper decades ago is a concrete fact now, as opposed to viewing letter writing as a  form of journaling, thought expression, and catharsis.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, sexuality is fluid, and it is important that we create spaces for people to question that if need be. Even if it’s the President who now has a wife. If we are to accept queerness and questioning as normal, especially in the Black community, we cannot gasp and gawk at every time there is this notion that someone powerful may be queer. Yes, it would be inspiring if Obama were queer. But that would be his business to share. On his terms. It is also inspiring to envision a world where it does not matter.

Or better yet, perhaps we ought to imagine a world where Michelle, his wife, knew and it was discussed. Of all the narratives surrounding the letter, the scenario of Barack sharing and Michelle knowing and supporting is rarely centered. We should ask ourselves why. Then again, maybe we should not ask ourselves at all. It’s adding unsolicited ink to the journal, but the journal is not ours to begin with.