Nancy Mace’s “Adam and Eve” Tweet Sparks Outrage as Former LGBTQ+ Ally Turns on Gay Rights

If you blinked, you might have missed the moment when Nancy Mace, South Carolina’s most prominent Republican congresswoman, officially closed the book on her brief chapter as an LGBTQ+ ally. On Tuesday, Mace dropped a tweet that felt like a time capsule from the 1980s: “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” The phrase, a well-worn anti-gay slogan from the Reagan era, was delivered with no context, no apology, and no explanation—just a blunt reminder that, for some politicians, the LGBTQ+ community is always just one election cycle away from being the next political punching bag .

For those who remember Mace’s earlier, more progressive stances, the tweet was a jarring pivot. In 2022, she voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects same-sex marriage at the federal level, and even told reporters she “strongly support LGBTQ rights and equality” . She once claimed to have LGBTQ friends and family, and said that her experiences with queer people had shaped her views. But now, her campaign spokesperson is openly declaring her the “loudest and proudest transphobe in Congress,” and Mace herself is doubling down on rhetoric that erases and dehumanizes LGBTQ+ people .

Mace’s journey from LGBTQ+ ally to anti-gay crusader is a story that’s become all too familiar in American politics. In 2021, she was celebrated by some as a rare Republican voice for LGBTQ+ rights, even as she maintained conservative positions on other issues. But over the past year, her rhetoric has shifted dramatically. In February 2025, she unleashed a transphobic tirade on the House floor, using slurs and attacking transgender people in a way that shocked even her critics . Over the summer, she reportedly called a transgender constituent a slur during a town hall, further cementing her reputation as a leading voice of transphobia in Congress .

Now, with her “Adam and Eve” tweet, Mace has made it clear that her attacks are no longer limited to the transgender community. The phrase itself is a relic of a bygone era, when evangelical leaders like Jerry Falwell used it to oppose gay rights and same-sex marriage. It’s a slogan that’s been used to justify discrimination, violence, and the denial of basic human rights to LGBTQ+ people for decades. That Mace would resurrect it in 2025 is a stark reminder that, for some politicians, the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is never truly over .

So what changed? The answer, as many LGBTQ+ advocates see it, is simple: politics. Mace is currently running for governor of South Carolina, and she’s locked in a fierce battle with Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette for the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. In the current political climate, where anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is increasingly used as a litmus test for conservative loyalty, Mace’s shift is less about personal conviction and more about political survival. As one social media user put it, “You’re going to be against gay rights as soon as it’s socially advantageous” .

This isn’t just about Mace, though. Her trajectory is part of a broader pattern in American politics, where attacks on transgender people are often used as a gateway to more hardline conservatism, and where LGBTQ+ rights are seen as expendable in the pursuit of power. As Mace’s spokesperson proudly declared, “There are only TWO genders,” a statement that erases the lived experiences of countless transgender and nonbinary people .

For the LGBTQ+ community, Mace’s latest move is both infuriating and predictable. Many see it as a reminder that the fight for equality is never truly won, and that even those who once claimed to be allies can turn on the community when it’s politically convenient. But it’s also a call to action. In the face of attacks like Mace’s, the response from LGBTQ+ advocates has been clear: solidarity is the only way forward.

“God made Adam and Eve AND Steve! Why’re we not all kissing each other, this is absurd!” sings Ashnikko in her new song, a playful but pointed rebuttal to the kind of rhetoric Mace is now embracing . It’s a sentiment that resonates with many in the queer community, who see Mace’s tweet not just as an attack, but as a reminder of how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.

The reality is that LGBTQ+ rights are not a political bargaining chip. They are fundamental human rights that should be protected for everyone, regardless of who’s in power. As Mace and others like her try to roll back progress, the LGBTQ+ community must stand together, resist erasure, and continue to fight for a world where everyone can live openly and authentically.

Mace’s “Adam and Eve” tweet is more than just a throwback to the 1980s. It’s a stark reminder that the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is ongoing, and that the gains we’ve made are always at risk. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear cases that could impact same-sex marriage, and as anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric becomes more mainstream, the need for solidarity and resistance has never been greater.

For now, Mace’s tweet stands as a symbol of what happens when politicians put power over principle. But it also serves as a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community, a reminder that we are stronger together, and that we will not be silenced or erased. As one advocate put it, “We are moving on with or without her” .