Anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Derrick Van Orden criticized for cursing out teenagers in Capitol

Democratic congress members are criticizing anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) for yelling and swearing at a group of teenage Senate pages in the Capitol building. Pages are 16- and 17-year-olds who assist Senate operations.

On Thursday, just after midnight, while giving a late-night tour to about 50 people, Van Orden saw several teens laying on the floor of the Capitol rotunda and taking photographs, The Hill reported.

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“What the f**k are you all doing?” he reportedly yelled at the teens. “Get the f**k out of here. You are defiling the space you [pieces of s**t]. Who the f**k are you?”

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When the teens informed him that they were Senate pages, Van Orden allegedly replied, “I don’t give a f**k who you are… you jack**ses, get out.”

When asked about his comments, Van Orden didn’t deny them but instead insisted that the teens were treating the historic building like a “frat house.”

“The Capitol Rotunda served as a field hospital where countless Union soldiers died fighting to free men in the Civil War,” Van Orden said. “I have long said our nation’s Capitol is a symbol of the sacrifice our servicemen and women have made for this country and should never be treated like a frat house common room…. I would think that I’d be terribly disrespectful to lay on the grave of a soldier that died fighting for freedom.”

Van Orden’s “frat house” complaint is interesting considering that Punchbowl News reported that “Van Orden and staff were heard partying loudly” before he cursed at the teens.

Out gay Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) criticized Van Orden in a tweet that referenced Van Orden’s presence at the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. He bankrolled the trip with leftover cash from his 2020 campaign.

Noting Van Orden’s comment about soldiers’ graves, Pocan wrote, “[I] Wonder if he told [the same thing] to his fellow insurrectionists, who were beating police officers on the same ground? (Sounds more like [alcohol emojis] to me).”

Wonder if he told that to his fellow insurrectionists, who were beating police officers on the same ground? (Sounds more like