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In a twist that could have been plucked from a soap opera, Corey DeAngelis—known in the adult film world as Seth Rose—has found himself at the center of controversy.
Once a performer in gay adult films, DeAngelis has since reinvented himself as an anti-LGBTQ+ activist, pushing for “parental rights” and rallying against discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in schools.
And now, his past and present are colliding in a very public way.
DeAngelis has garnered a strong following as a school choice evangelist and has been vocal about his opposition to what he calls “woke” agendas in schools.
Backed by right-wing organizations like the Heritage Foundation, he even contributed to Project 2025, a document that calls for eliminating the Department of Education, all while decrying LGBTQ+ inclusion in school curricula.
His positions have made him a darling of the MAGA crowd and an emerging figure on the far-right parental rights scene.
But recent revelations have cast a spotlight on a part of DeAngelis’ life that he clearly hoped would stay in the past. Under the name “Seth Rose,” DeAngelis appeared in several gay adult films back in 2014, performing solo scenes for GayHoopla—a detail that recently resurfaced on social media, much to the shock of his current fanbase.
As the old clips circulated, DeAngelis’ connection to his adult film past became too widespread to ignore, leading to his suspension from his role at the Betsy DeVos-backed American Federation for Children.
At first, DeAngelis remained tight-lipped about the controversy. But yesterday, he seemed to address the situation in a tweet, admitting to having made “mistakes” in his past.
“Just like everyone else, I have made mistakes throughout my life,” he wrote. “I was a victim of poor decisions and poor influences. I have turned that experience into the fuel that fires me to save young people from being put in the same position I was.”
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The irony of DeAngelis’ situation hasn’t been lost on LGBTQ+ advocates. Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, slammed DeAngelis not for his adult film past but for his current anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs.
“Project 2025 calls for eliminating the Department of Education, which exists to help make sure every student, including LGBTQ students, receive a quality education in a safe environment,” she said.
Ellis emphasized that DeAngelis’ activism should be seen as a direct attack on LGBTQ+ youth, cloaked under the guise of “parental rights.”
While some of his supporters seem willing to overlook his past—claiming it only strengthens his anti-LGBTQ+ stance—others are scratching their heads at the disconnect.
How does someone who once worked in gay adult entertainment now campaign so vocally against LGBTQ+ rights in schools?
The layers of DeAngelis’ public persona unravel quickly, revealing a man torn between his past and present identities.
For many in the LGBTQ+ community, it’s hard to reconcile the Corey DeAngelis of today—staunchly anti-LGBTQ+ and focused on removing queer issues from schools—with the Seth Rose of yesteryear, who once participated in the very culture he now condemns.
As DeAngelis continues to campaign against LGBTQ+ inclusion, the question remains: how long will he be able to keep up this balancing act?
One thing is certain—this story is far from over.
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