Photos of Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) dressed in a yellow wig and a flowing skirt are gaining significant attention on social media, leading to accusations of hypocrisy amid the conservative movement’s ongoing campaign against drag shows.
The images surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) and have stirred controversy due to their timing and context. The first photo, which appeared on Sunday afternoon, shows a blurry image of Vance wearing a black T-shirt and a playful necklace. He is positioned next to red Solo cups and what appears to be the edge of a kitchen countertop. This image was initially shared by podcaster Matt Bernstein.
He actually looks comfortable in his own skin for once.
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) August 12, 2024
The second photo, which emerged on Monday morning, provides a clearer view of Vance in a similar outfit. The image captures Vance voguing in a Polaroid shot while holding a dark blue handbag and gazing down at the camera. In the background, a person dressed in a white skirt with an exposed midriff is also visible. Bernstein, who hosts the podcast “A Bit Fruity,” stated that the photo was sent to him by a friend who had received it from Travis Whitfill, a biotech entrepreneur and adjunct professor at Yale School of Medicine.
We have to be clearer on what this is. This is a photo of JD Vance CROSSDRESSING. He is a crossy, NOT a Drag Queen. Hope this helps… https://t.co/PH0pGq8GWL
— CEASEFIRE 🇵🇸 (@SheaCoulee) August 11, 2024
Whitfill confirmed to the Daily Beast that the photos were taken at a Halloween party in 2012, during the same period Vance was attending Yale Law School. Whitfill’s comments indicate that the photos are authentic, but he did not immediately respond to further inquiries from the Daily Dot regarding their provenance.
The Daily Dot has not yet been able to verify the authenticity of the images independently. A spokesperson for Vance did not deny that the photos depict Vance but declined to comment further on the issue.
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The release of these photos comes amid a broader conservative effort against the transgender community, including legislation targeting drag performances. In 2023, Ohio House Republicans supported a bill to criminalize drag queen story hours by categorizing them as adult cabaret performances. This legislative push is part of a larger trend seen in at least 14 states, where similar bills have been introduced.
Vance has been vocal in his criticism of policies related to gender-affirming care and trans rights, including recent attacks on his opponent, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), for his support of these issues. The photos of Vance have thus been met with scrutiny, with critics accusing him of hypocrisy.
Social media reactions to the photos have varied. Some users mocked Vance, with one account joking about a parody Maybelline ad, “Maybe he was born with it?” Others commented on how Vance appeared comfortable in the photos, with one user noting, “He actually looks comfortable in his own skin for once.”
I didn’t know him, but I bet that’s true. From all the sources I’ve heard, JD was actually a good guy in law school. Not sure what happened after though…
— Travis Whitfill MPH (@twhitfill) August 11, 2024
This incident is not the first time Vance’s past has come under scrutiny. In late July, another old photo of Vance, showing him passed out at Ohio State University in 2007, circulated on social media.
The controversy surrounding Vance’s photos has also prompted some clarifications. Drag performer Shea Couleé, who won “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” in 2020, noted the distinction between cross-dressing and drag. “We have to be clearer on what this is. This is a photo of JD Vance CROSSDRESSING. He is a crossy, NOT a Drag Queen. Hope this helps…” Couleé wrote.
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Vance is not the first GOP politician to face scrutiny over past photos related to drag. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) was previously criticized for performing as a female cheerleader during his high school’s Powder Puff game in the 1970s, despite his vocal opposition to drag shows.
As the 2024 election approaches, these revelations and the subsequent reactions underscore the complex interplay between personal history and public policy in contemporary American politics.
