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Democratic hopeful Melissa Chaudhry has come under fire from members of her own party after saying she hid her progressive views on LGBTQ+ rights to avoid offending potential voters.
Chaudhry, described by the New York Post as “super woke”, said in a recent interview that she purposely left her views on LGBTQ+ rights off her website, as it may upset Muslim voters.
The 34-year-old, who is a practising Muslim, said she was “careful about her Muslim constituents”.
Chaudhry is running for election to the US House, representing Washington’s 9th Congressional District.
At the time of the interview, she had reportedly omitted her views on LGBTQ+ issues from her website. A WayBackMachine screenshot of her website from 2 June, 2026 does not appear to explicitly mention LGBTQ+ issues, though it now does.
Chaudhry said she supported justice, health care and protections in housing and employment for LGBTQ+ people, according to The Stranger.
When asked why she didn’t publicise that, then, she said: “Because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately.”
Since then, members of her own party – and even LGBTQ+ Democrats – have criticised her.
Andrew Ashiofu, chair of Washington Stonewall Democrats, said on Facebook: “Our community is not expendable. LGBTQ+ rights are not optional. They are foundational to any candidate seeking Democratic support.
“Democratic organisations have a responsibility to ensure their endorsements reflect candidates who are transparent, values-aligned, and committed to protecting every member of our community.”
The statement finished: “Stonewall Democrats will always stand for honesty, accountability, and LGBTQ+ equality without exception.”
The Washington Stonewall Democrats later wrote on Facebook: “She avoids talking about LGBTQIA+ issues so as not to offend her Muslim supporters. What a privileged statement to make, creating misinformation to cause chaos between two oppressed demographics. One would think she would apologise and move on. Again, thinking rationally is not something all candidates possess, as proven by Melissa.”
Melissa Chaudhry’s response
Melissa Chaudhry responded to the Stranger interview and criticism in a video on Instagram.
She explained that LGBTQ+ rights had always been a part of her core pillars of “Dignity, Safety, Opportunity For All”.
“Where do I stutter?” she said. “Do we want special rights and protections for some and not for others?”
She continued: “I have supported full equality for LGBTQ+ people my entire life, not since this campaign started, my entire life.”
Chaudhry referenced her “only sibling” who is “LGBTQIA+”, that she was a founding member of her high school’s Gay/Straight Alliance, and that her closest friend is “a disabled lesbian woman raising her autistic son in a loving, committed family with her partner”.
She said: “My platform has said the same thing since the very beginning: dignity, safety, and opportunity for all. No asterisks, no exclusions. All means all.”
Her views on LGBTQ+ equality are also explicitly now on her website. Under “Defend Freedom and Human Dignity”, the “LGBTQ+ communities” section reads: “Dignity, protection, safety, equality, and full civil rights.” Under “Government and Corporations OUT of Your Private Life”, the “LGBTQ+ equality” section reads: “Full legal protection and dignity under the law. Who you love is your business. How you present yourself to the world is your business. Your families are real families. You are full citizens.”
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