Leaked texts from Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) showed him insulting the looks and gender presentation of his congressional colleagues and Democratic voters.The texts between Gallego and an unnamed friend of 20 years discussed public perception of the Democratic Party and the partys future. The friend wrote This is how the world views many [Democrats], and shared a meme of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who often has short purple-dyed hair, which had superimposed text reading, If erectile dysfunction had a face. Related Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says shes excited to work with Trump as an AI industry lobbyist Gallego replied, They arent wrong! and later wrote, We look like the not fun party. Always telling and correcting people. Not allowing men to be men. Women to be hot. We used to be the party of sec [sic] drugs and rock and roll Now Dem women look like Dem men and Dem men look like women.Gallego didnt deny the messages, according to People magazine, but called it heartbreaking and sad that his friend had shared them. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today He called the messages a reflection of what Ive been saying the whole time, adding, Ive been very clear about where I think the party needs to be. I do think we have to be an open and bigger tent party. So this is just a reflection of what I think Ive said, he said, adding that the party was not as inclusive as it should be.Gallego is a pro-LBGTQ+ ally who has consistently opposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. He is also a former vice-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. However, he has previously said thathe was concerned about transgender athletes competing in girls and womens sports, telling trans girls, We love you. We want you to be part of our community, but this is just the one place you cant play.Trans journalist Erin Reed criticized Gallegos messages, writing, His messages do not reflect a genuine concern for the challenges facing American men, nor do they offer a blueprint for Democrats to win by mirroring the rights hostility toward gender variance. They reflect the same tired, corrosive rhetoric we have come to expect from the far right, and we should not accept it simply because its coming from within our own coalition.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.