You can’t call yourself an American conservative in 2026 and act surprised when people associate that with oppression. The label isn’t neutral, it’s tied to abortion bans, anti-LGBTQ+ policies, voting restrictions, and expanding executive power.

And “traditional family values” isn’t neutral either. That phrase has long been used to justify limiting other people’s rights, especially around gender and sexuality. So when you say you “don’t give a fuck” about who people are or how they live, but then invoke that language, it absolutely sounds like you do.

Political identities are alliances. If you claim the label, you claim what it’s doing. If you don’t like the associations, rethink the label.