Graham Platner abruptly cancels campaign fundraiser at New York City gay bar

Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for US Senate Maineabruptly canceled a campaign event in a New York City gay bar this weekend shortly after The lawyer contacted to inquire about the event.

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The reason behind the event’s cancellation is unclear and Platner’s campaign team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision. But references to the event were removed from Platner’s campaign website Saturday afternoon.

Friday, after learning of Saturday’s event, The lawyer contacted Platner’s team and Industry, the gay bar listed as the event’s location, about the decision to hold the event at an LGBTQ+ bar, given the candidate’s previous anti-LGBTQ+ remarks online. Platner’s team did not provide an official response. Industry representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Related: Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner admits to using ‘indefensible’ antigay slurs in posts discovered on Reddit

Related: Gay Maine man seeking Susan Collins’ Senate seat says he’s not buying Graham Platner’s redemption story

“Join Graham Platner for a meet and greet fundraising event,” reads one flyer, inviting people to RSVP and attend between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday evening.

A flyer invited people to meet Graham Platner at Industry Bar, a gay bar in New York, before the event was abruptly canceled.

Last fall, The lawyer broken new that Platner had made several anti-gay comments on the social media platform Reddit. In an October 2025 interview with The lawyerPlatner apologized for making the remarks and called them “abhorrent.”

Platner also fall under fire for misogynistic and racist comments he made online, as well as a since-concealed tattoo on his chest that resembled Nazi badge. Platner has already apologized for the comments and the tattoo.

On June 9, Platner will face Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the state’s Democratic runoff. primary election for the Senate. The winner will face incumbent Senator Susan Collins, the last Republican representing New England in Congress.

Since launching his Senate campaign, Platner has support expressed for the LGBTQ+ community, despite his previous comments. Yet the Senate candidate’s numerical track record has challenged his campaign. This month, Mills used Platner’s past comments downplaying sexual assault in campaign advertisements directed towards female voters.

“If I saw these ads, I would have questions,” Platner said in a video ad. released in response. “Maine, I ask you not to judge me for the worst thing I said on the internet on my worst day 14 years ago, but for who I am today.”

This article was written as part of The Advocate’s Future of Queer Media fellowship program, supported by a generous gift from Morrison Media Group. The program helps support the next generation of LGBTQ+ journalists.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Graham Platner abruptly cancels campaign fundraiser at NYC gay bar

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