After celebrating Donald Trumps nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), out Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) continues to defend the former presidential candidate. Kennedy has no background in medical science and is known for his wacky, anti-scientific approach to health, which includes opposition to vaccines and sunscreen, health interventions that have saved millions of lives. Kennedy himself has a history of poor health, which included a parasitic brain worm that resulted in mental fogginess and memory loss. Related Marco Rubio may become the nations most anti-LGBTQ+ secretary of state ever He will signal to other countries that the U.S. tolerates and endorses anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry. Yet Polis seems to think he has the potential to improve American health. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Weve seen a lot of Cabinet appointments that are very dangerous and threatening to the country from the incoming president, but I always try to look at the glass as half full, he recently told CNN, adding that Kennedy said some false and outright dangerous claims about vaccines and vaccines that have saved millions of lives but, at the same time, we have to remember the last time Trump was president, he appointed a pharmaceutical lobbyist as the head of this agency, literally the fox guarding the hen house. I truly believe that RFK is not beholden to big pharma, Polis continued. I think hes an independent voice, and I think hes somebody who means what he says when he cares about reducing chronic disease through better nutrition If he focuses on that he can do some good for public health. Polis emphasized that he would strongly oppose any anti-vaccination efforts from Kennedy, but also said he thinks Kennedy wont try to end vaccination because thats what Kennedy said recently. Yet, Kennedy has been a prominent voice in the anti-vaccine movement, which is based on pseudoscience and uses misinformation to spread the belief that vaccines dont prevent disease. He is a member and the chair of Childrens Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization that claims that autism, ADHD, food allergies, cancer, and autoimmune disease are caused by vaccines.Kennedy and Childrens Health Defense spread misinformationin 2018 in Samoa that led to a decline in the vaccination rate, which was followed by an outbreak of measles in which 57,000 people were infected and 83 people including children died.Folks on social media have expressed shock and disappointment at the Democratic governors views, accusing Polis of sucking up to the MAGA party.Is this what passes for a Democrat in Colorado. Good lord The Illinois Enthusiast (@mr1llinois) December 7, 2024Remember that every single Republican appointee for the Supreme Court said before confirmation that Roe was settled law. After confirmation, Roe (settled law) was overturned the first chance these justices had. Why believe any appointee of the Republicans? fxl24 (@fxl241) December 7, 2024 Polis is a classic mugwump. He tries to straddle the political divide by playing to both sides simultaneously. The classic definition: with his mug on one side of the fence and his wump on the other. Richard Donelan (@rdone) December 7, 2024Nothing but word salad and hypocrisy.So disappointed in one of my (former) favorite politicians Ralph (@musicloverohio) December 7, 2024 Polis has been on the hot seat in CO. He just showed how weak in character he is to the Dems who voted for him just to appease the crackpot maga protesters. OneVoiceOfMany (@dinodlz) December 7, 2024He got bought. Toni Kushner (@potatoflan) December 8, 2024 Obeying in advance. This gets scarier every day. Rita (@Ritam513) December 7, 2024Confused about Poliss intentions right now. But am I missing something, is RFK a doctor or scientist in any specialty? Brenda (@Bjmadrid75) December 7, 2024 Polio approves this message. Robert J Ellingsworth Parody. (@BY1959) December 7, 2024Does nutrition cure polio and mesales or small pox. So when they cut food stamps and Chip how is he going to do the better nutrition thing. Bill Braden (@billbraden9) December 7, 2024Embarrassing. Jordan (@suchagreatguy) December 7, 2024In November, Polis wrote on X that he was excited by Kennedys nomination. He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA. I hope he leans into personal choice on vaccines rather than bans (which I think are terrible, just like mandates) but what Im most optimistic about is taking on big pharma and the corporate ag oligopoly to improve our health.Polis cited what he believes is Kennedys support for capping prescription drug prices and reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture in his post.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.