Kyle Rittenhouse is an American man who is known nationally as the “Kenosha Shooter”. He was born on January 3, 2003, in Antioch, Illinois, and grew up in a relatively conservative family. During his time in high school, Rittenhouse joined various programs for the Grayslake Police Department and the Antioch Fire Department. After transitioning into online schooling, he eventually dropped out.
Rittenhouse wasn’t shy when it came to expressing his opinions publicly on social media. He was a known supporter of the Blue Lives Matter movement and organized a fundraiser through Facebook for a non-profit organization called Humanizing The Badge. Rittenhouse was also an avid Trump supporter and campaigned for the tycoon during the elections. Just a few months before the fatal shooting, he attended a Trump rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
After the tragic shooting in Kenosha, Rittenhouse immediately rose to infamy during the public coverage of his trial. His name continuously made headlines, leading many to speculate about the teenager’s motive. Some have even questioned the young man’s sexuality. So, is Kyle Rittenhouse gay? Are his motives more sinister than expected? Here’s what the public knows so far.
VOTE: What is Kyle Rittenhouse’s Sexuality?
The Fatal Kenosha Shooting
On August 25, 2020, the city of Kenosha in Wisconsin was under civil unrest due to the shooting of Jacob Blake by a local police officer. What followed was a series of protests and riots as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. The latter was formed due to the unjust killings of black people at the hands of police officers.
The then 17-year-old Rittenhouse joined the commotion and was armed with an AR-15 style rifle. Apparently, he went to Kenosha to protect the local businesses from the protesters. Not long after his arrival, a man chased Rittenhouse and tried to grab his gun, prompting the teenager to shoot him. Rittenhouse fled and in turn shot two more men, totaling two fatal shootings and wounding one other.
Rittenhouse was arrested and set for trial in November 2021. According to the prosecution, the teenager was considered an active shooter, hence the men’s attempts to disarm him. However, the defense argued that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense and had to use the necessary force to prevent his own death. The trial concluded before the end of the month with the jury finding Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges.
The verdict polarized the public and brought on public outcries regarding the turn of events. After the trial, Rittenhouse made several media appearances, including an interview with Tucker Carlson for Fox Nation. In the interview, the shooter shared his plans of becoming a lawyer or nurse and claimed that he supported Black Lives Matter and “peaceful demonstrations.” Rittenhouse also met former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on the same day that the Carlson interview aired.
Kyle Rittenhouse’s Sexuality
Despite the publicity of his trial, much of Rittenhouse’s personal life is unknown. It’s not surprising since he is still considered a private citizen. There are no details circulating online regarding the shooter’s dating history or other relationships.
Many people theorize that Rittenhouse may be a closeted gay, citing that his frustrations stem from a lack of self-acceptance. These claims are baseless and the shooter has never commented on his sexuality. However, Rittenhouse did express his opinions regarding the LGBTQ community.
In a now-deleted tweet, Rittenhouse wrote:
Lemme guess, none of you lefties have a problem with these clowns wielding their AR-15’s around children with their faces obscured – because ‘trans’ and stuff.”
Whether it was deliberate or unfortunate timing, Rittenhouse deleted the tweet after the shooting at a gay nightclub occurred shortly. His post didn’t escape eagle-eyed watchers though. The shooter was criticized for his mocking post and was called a hypocrite by the public. Rittenhouse’s stand on the LGBTQ movement remains unconfirmed.
Is Kyle Rittenhouse Gay?
No, Kyle Rittenhouse is not gay. The Kenosha shooter has never commented on the matter regarding his sexuality. Although it’s safe to say, based on his tweets, that Rittenhouse is critical of the LGBTQ community.