Kansas City LGBTQ chair proudly shares Grindr message: ‘Thanks kings’
Justice Horn is providing some much needed Gen Z representation in politics in 2023.
Of all the messages you can expect on Grindr, congratulations on a new job are probably not on anyone’s list.
But Justice Horn, the new chair of the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission, has had just that. In a refreshing turn of transparency from a public official he recently shared a screenshot of a Grindr message congratulating him on his new role.
He was named in the role on Thursday (29 December). He had served as Vice Chair for just under two years.
The 24-year-old Gen-Z official posted on Twitter on Monday (2 January) a screenshot of a message reading: “Hey congrats”. Horn replied: “Thank you! Really means a lot.”
Alongside the screenshot, Horn wrote: “I do not and will not regret posting this because I’m young, single, and gay—but even the folks on Grindr are wishing me well on becoming Chair of the LGBTQ Commission. Thanks kings.”
The responses are just as delightful. One person commented: “This is awesome,” while someone else wrote: “what a slay! keep it up king!”
Horn told The Advocate that he’s been congratulated on both Grindr and Tinder.
“Public servants are regular people, and regular people use dating apps like Grindr,” he added.
“I’m single, young, and sexually active, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. I can both have a professional and personal life, and I think that’s why so many people are connecting and uplifting this.
“It challenges our society’s visual of what those in power should look like and act [like],” he went on to say.
As he ran for Jackson County Legislature last year some of Horn’s campaign signs were defaced with homophobic slurs.
Still, as the highest-ranking member of Gen Z in local government in the Kansas City area Horn is keen to increase representation. He also wants to find ways of engaging with people who feel disenfranchised from politics.
“Our state legislature, city councils, county commissions, and the boards and commissions under them need more Gen Z representation,” he tweeted on 1 January.
He continued: “In this new year, I hope we all advocate for more Gen Z representation at all levels of government, especially the folks with the power and those already in the room. 2023 must be the year Gen Z finally gets a seat at the table—here’s to that future!”