Ryan Webb, a Republican councilman in Delaware County, Indiana, is making headlines after he claimed on Facebook that he now identifies as a woman of color.
The announcement has been viewed by some as an apparent attempt to troll the left.
Who is Ryan Webb? Republican Councilman, Ryan Webb Identifies as Woman of Color to Troll Left
Webb, a married father of five, has said that he is holding up a “mirror to the political left” to expose the contradictions in gender ideology.
The councilman made the announcement on Facebook in April, saying that he had decided to come out and feel comfortable announcing his “true authentic self.” Webb wrote, “It is with great relief that I announce to everyone that I identify as a woman and not just any woman but as a woman of color as well. I guess this would make me gay/lesbian as well, since I am attracted to women.”
Webb has also said that friends, fellow council members, and people in the community can continue to address him as “Ryan or as Councilman Webb” and that he will also “retain” his pronouns of “He/Him.”
The councilman went on to say that his announcement likely made him the “very first lesbian woman of color in the history of Delaware County to ever serve on the Delaware County council.”
While Webb’s announcement has been seen by some as a joke or a trolling attempt, it has also sparked outrage among progressives.
One transgender female told the council last week that Webb was clearly ridiculing others. “If he were serious, I’d sing his praises,” she said. “But instead, I know better. We all do. I know better because of his history of making hateful anti-trans statements on social media and disrespecting one’s pronouns. He has, purposely and intentionally, misgendered me, ridiculing my own gender identity. That is not something transgender people do to one another.”
Webb has since responded to the backlash, saying that he had “no choice” but to accept an interview with Indiana news station I-Team 8.
He added, “Going forward I will speak my truth and be open about who I am as a person, as well as how I perceive the complexity of my own gender identity. We cannot let bully’s (sic), racists, hateful and intolerant bigots silence our voices.”
Webb’s apparent trolling has garnered significant attention online, with the clip that he was responding to racking up over 7.4 million views and 35,000 likes on Twitter after it was posted on April 30.
While Webb has received some support, he has also received a lot of backlash, with some even calling for his “execution.”
Aiva Arthur
