San Jose’s LGBTQ+ community grapples with Torres scandal, perpetuation of stereotypes

THE ALLEGATIONS WERE hard to believe.

Initial reports of a child sex abuse investigation into San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres reeked of a political smear to his supporters, who had yet to see key details, in early October. For more than a year, the District 3 official faced incessant online vitriol for being an openly gay elected leader, which often pushed myths about queer people grooming children. Homophobic emails flooded his office for inviting a drag queen to perform at a council meeting last year — a historic gesture for the LGBTQ+ movement at a time when conservative states outlawed public drag shows.