How a Young Gay Man in Hawaii Won Election over a Rabid "Proud Boy"

Our guest today is Adrian Tam, the son of Chinese immigrants, who took 63% of the vote against his opponent Republican Nicholas Ochs for a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Ochs, is known as the leader of the Hawaiian "Proud Boys" and had a campaign Facebook page that was deleted by the social media giant for violating terms of its service and community standards. 

We talk to the newly elected congressman today about LGBTQ election victories, especially in the face of rank racism and homophobia.

Adrian endured a never-ending diatribe of hatred during the campaign, both over his sexual orientation and even in multi-ethnic/cultural Hawai’i, his background as the son of immigrant parents from Hong Kong and Taiwan.  Ochs’ supporters bombarded his campaign’s social media to the point where the messages from his own voters were drowned out. Ochs has a checkered history on Oahu with minority groups. He has been criticized in the past for offensive posts toward Black, Jewish and LGBTQ communities.

  Hawai’i’s 22nd district has tremendous issues with homeless residents, the state itself has the third highest rate of homelessness in the nation. Adrian said that in addition to battling the coronavirus pandemic- he will focus on this issue. This marks a difference from his primary opponent, former five-term State Rep. Tom Brower, who waged war on the homeless in the district, most notably smashing and throwing out their belongings.

Adrian was one of the 155 state legislative and local governmental candidates endorsed by the LGBT Victory Fund, the Washington D.C. based political action organization that assists in electing LGBTQ politicos across the United States.  

With co-host Brody Levesque