Gay congressional candidate ‘won’t be shamed’ by fetish model past: ‘I am very proud of who I am’
Chris Gallant is running in New York’s First Congressional District. (Instagram/@gallantny)
Democratic congressional candidate Chris Gallant has issued an inspiring and defiant response to conservatives after it emerged that he modelled fetish gear before turning to politics.
Gallant, 37, is running against Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s First Congressional District, and will remain in the race despite the recent media reports about his past work as a model.
The army veteran and volunteer firefight, who is gay, previously appeared in BDSM-themed promotional photos for San Francisco fetish retailer Mr S Leather.
According to the New York Post, the images were taken between 2011 and 2020, while Gallant was also serving in the Army National Guard. He reportedly appeared in photos modelling leather, bondage and other fetish gear for the store.
In message to supporters on Monday (14 September), Gallant indiciated that he wouldn’t allow the furore to impact his political ambitions for New York’s First Congressional District.
“I have always been unapologetically me,” Gallant declared in a statement obtained by Newsday.
“These attacks on my identity have just made me stronger in my values and convictions.”
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday (17 September), Gallant doubled down with a fiery statement in which he declared he “would not be shamed into silence” by the leaked images, which he described as a “political hit”.
“Well, by now you’ve probably seen the stories and the pictures, but let’s be clear about what this is: This is a coordinated political hit meant to drive me out of this race, and this represents everything that’s wrong with our politics today”, Gallant said.
“Look, I am very proud of who I am and I won’t be shamed into silence. And I won’t allow my private life to be distorted and weaponised against me.
“I am not a politician, actually far from it. But I’ve been fighting for this country since I first enlisted in the army at 17 years old. And I wasn’t scared flying Black Hawk helicopters in the Middle East, and I sure as hell won’t let some pictures from my past scare me out of this race.
“So hear m when I say this: I’m in this to won. I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge an I’m not backing down now.
“Thank you for all of the ongoing support that we’ve received. Let’s go win this.”
