A “spiritual guru” associated with a small religious group linked to former Hawaiian Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for director of national intelligence, has come under scrutiny for hateful remarks against LGBTQ people.
The revelations, reported Thursday by The Daily Beast, add to the growing controversy surrounding Gabbard’s nomination. Chris Butler, the leader of the Science of Identity Foundation, a splinter faction of the Hare Krishna movement, has faced backlash for tapes in which he made derogatory statements about LGBTQ individuals.
Butler, who goes by the name Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa and is addressed by followers as “Jagad Guru,” is believed to have a significant following. “Some former members estimate he has as many as 10,000 followers,” reported Daniel Bates and Emell Derra Adolphus.
“‘Jagad Guru’ means ‘teacher of the world’ and also that he is the ultimate authority to his followers.” The tapes, reportedly recorded during Gabbard’s time with the group, reveal Butler using slurs such as “f—-t” and “dy-e” and comparing same-sex relationships to bizarre acts like “having sex with fire hydrants.”
He railed against anti-discrimination laws, mocking their protections for LGBTQ individuals. In one rant, he said, “If you say it’s quite abnormal for a man to have sex with another man, I think it’s sinful, I think it’s ugly, I think it’s unhealthy, I think it’s unnatural. Why? Is there a law against that? As a matter of fact, there is!”
While Hindu doctrine does not take a definitive stance on same-sex relationships, Butler’s extreme views have drawn criticism from former group members and the public. Gabbard, who attended a boarding school affiliated with the Science of Identity Foundation, initially ran on an anti-gay rights platform, reflecting her father’s activism against LGBTQ rights.
However, during her time in office as a Democrat, she publicly disavowed those earlier positions. When asked about Gabbard’s ties to the group, the Trump campaign dismissed inquiries as “bigoted.” The scrutiny comes as Gabbard faces widespread opposition over her qualifications for the intelligence role.
Critics, including national security experts and some Republicans, question her lack of experience and her previous promotion of pro-Russia conspiracy theories. In an effort to win over GOP skeptics, Gabbard recently reversed her opposition to a key surveillance program.
The controversy surrounding both her past affiliations and her suitability for the role continues to fuel heated debate as her confirmation process approaches.