Chuck Norris dead at 86: A history of the controversial actor’s anti-LGBTQ+ comments
Actor Chuck Norris has passed aged 86. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty)
Chuck Norris, best known as the star of 90s TV show Walker, Texas Ranger, has passed away at the age of 86.
Norris’ family announced the news, noting in their March 20 Instagram statement, “Please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
“To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength,” the statement continued. “To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.”
Though Chuck Norris made a name for himself as an actor and a famed martial artist, the action hero’s history does contain a number of controversial and anti-LGBTQ+ statements.
Norris was a staunch conservative and a Republican who proudly endorsed Donald Trump in 2016. Alongside this, on multiple occasions, Norris spoke out against LGBTQ+ rights, including same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ acceptance in the Boy Scouts of America.
In 2012, Norris penned an article after The Boy Scouts of America overturned a ban on gay leaders and scouts.
Norris’ column accused Boy Scouts of America’s national board member, James Turley, of trying to win favour with Obama’s administration.
The actor also seemed to imply that President Obama had a “pro-gay” agenda that was impacting the Boy Scouts.
“Is Turley working on his own initiative, or has the White House prodded him with perks and favours?” Norris is quoted as writing in his now-deleted column.
“Is it a coincidence that Turley is in tight cahoots with the White House and that he is the only BSA national board member in 100 years to oppose its pro-traditional family stance?”
‘Fighting to protect our constitutional rights to life.’
Furthermore, his position against same-sex marriage seemed to be sealed when Norris backed Roy Moore
In 2017, Moore, a disgraced Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, ran for a US Senate seat. At the time, Moore had served as Chief Justice from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2013 to 2017. Both times, he was removed for judicial misconduct.
Famously, Moore abused his authority in a bid to block same-sex weddings in the state. He claimed the US Supreme Court ruling on equal marriage “doesn’t apply” in Alabama due to state anti-gay laws and ordered probate judges to enforce a same-sex marriage ban.
After being dismissed from his role, Moore blamed “radical homosexuals” for the decision to remove him.
Following all of this, Norris still backed Moore for the Senate seat. Norris said: “Judge Roy Moore is the real deal: He’s tough, tested, and has a spine of steel.
“Alabama needs Judge Moore there doing what he’s always done: fighting to protect our constitutional rights to life, religious liberty, and the freedom to protect ourselves and our families. And he will always put principle over politics.”
Moore was accused by several women of sexually assaulting them while they were underage. He then lost the seat to the oppositional Democratic candidate.
