“A former Yale Law School classmate and friend [of J. D. Vance] has shared about 90 of their emails and text messages… the emails add to an existing body of evidence showing how Mr. Vance pivoted from a strong opponent of former President Donald J. Trump to his running mate. They also provide an insight into a cultural willingness by Mr. Vance to accept his classmate, Sofia Nelson, who is transgender.” — New York Times
Amid all the headlines, I wanted to come forward and say that I’m sorry if my past behavior made me seem like a good person.
Emails between me and a trans friend have been circulating, and photos have surfaced allegedly showing me wearing drag. I wanted to get ahead of it and apologize if I ever came across as kindhearted or welcoming to anyone.
I was a young college student, and I was naïve to believe that all people deserve basic decency. Anyone who knows me today would agree: that’s not me.
Everybody says things they eventually regret. I can only hope you don’t think better of me for respecting gender identity or saying, “I hate the police.” My intention has always been to be as narrow-minded as possible.
I understand my mistakes now and promise to be worse going forward.
This isn’t the first time my past has been dug up to cast me in a good light. People accused my book of having an anti-billionaire, pro-union agenda. I’ll have you know that some of my closest friends are billionaire union-busters. This group has done so much for me, and I would never criticize them.
I know the media will keep slinging these sorts of compliments at me and hoping one sticks. Just know, I don’t deserve to be painted as the good guy.
And to the people who may have felt targeted by my actions, whether they be trans people or union workers, just know it pains me to think I might have made you feel accepted.