JD Vance has a long and storied history of anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs, but his former classmates at Yale University say it wasn't always this way.
Donald Trump's official running mate for the November presidential election didn't previously hold such extreme views — in fact, he used to belong to the "Never Trump" crowd comprised of Republicans with slightly-less conservative social beliefs.
This was reflected in his and his wife's support of Sofia Nelson, a former classmate who happens to be transgender.
Nelson recalled a time shortly after they had undergone top surgery in which Vance brought them home-baked treats as a recovery gift.
However, as the years passed and their friend group entered their professions, Nelson noted a stark shift in Vance's beliefs.
Their friendship ended in 2021 when the politician voiced support for a bill in Arkansas banning gender-affirming care for minors.
“It hurt my feelings when he started saying hateful things about trans people,” Nelson told the Times. »
