Democratic Rhode Island state senator Tiara Mack on Thursday posted a series of flyers saying she will "twerk for trans rights," among other reasons.
Mack was responding to a video posted on Monday by influential Twitter account "Libs of TikTok" that shows the state senator "twerking"—dancing in a provocative manner that involves shaking her butt and thrusting her hips. Mack in response blasted "the media" for "trying not to cover the real issues."
"Not on MY watch," she wrote. "I #TwerkFor joy, abortion justice, body autonomy, trans rights, and intersex rights." She then posted the flyers.
While Mack will likely win reelection in her heavily Democratic state Senate district, Democrats face a surprisingly tough race in one of the deep-blue state's congressional districts. Republican Allan Fung is polling ahead of all potential Democratic nominees in Rhode Island's Second Congressional District, a seat the GOP has not held for 30 years. The Rhode Island Republican Party is using the Mack controversy to fundraise.
Other causes for which Mack shakes her butt include "the human right to safe housing" and "black girl magic."
Links to donate to Mack's reelection campaign accompany the flyers.
Mack faced extensive backlash for the twerking video, with user @nikki_1968, who describes herself as "an admirer of Michelle and Barack," writing, "I'm not a conservative and I'm disappointed. Where do we draw the line on the behavior of public figures?"
"Girl," Mack responded. "I have an Ivy League degree and am a state senator."
This is not the first time the senator has tried to combine politics and sex. Mack, who calls herself a "Queer Educator," this year pushed a state bill to teach 11-year-olds about "pleasure-based sexual relations." Rhode Island parents spoke in "overwhelming opposition" to the bill, which one mother told the Providence Journal was "disgusting and inappropriate."