--- title: "Former NASA Astronaut Caught Faving Transphobic Tweets" description: "Former NASA astronaut and current podcaster Clayton Anderson has been caught liking a spate of transphobic tweets." date: "2023-03-31" modified: "2023-03-31" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/former-astronaut-likes-transphobic-tweets" categories: - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "astronauts" - "NASA" - "the digest" - "transgender" --- # Former NASA Astronaut Caught Faving Transphobic Tweets ![Former NASA astronaut and current podcaster Clayton Anderson has been caught liking a spate of transphobic tweets.]() *\Image: NASA / Futurism\* ## Fav Star In an unfortunate turn of events, ex-NASA astronaut and current podcaster Clayton Anderson has been caught favoriting a spate of transphobic tweets — and right around [Trans Day of Visibility](), no less. These harmful astronaut-approved posts, which *Futurism* has independently verified still have "likes" from Anderson, were first [pointed out earlier in the week by Amiko Kelly](), the wife of Clayton's fellow ex-astronaut Scott Kelly. "Don’t be like Astro Clay," Kelly, herself a former NASA-er, tweeted in tandem with screenshots of three super gross posts the astronaut-turned-podcaster had liked. In one, former Donald Trump advisor Dinesh D'Souza compares, complete with a typo, being trans to someone believing they're Napoleon Bonaparte. In another, a poster makes a shitty joke about a trans woman who was assaulted by a TSA agent at an airport — a story that's [made the rounds]() in the [right-wing over-hype cycle](). We're not linking to either of these tweets, or any of the others we documented Clayton liking, because frankly they're disgusting and don't deserve more eyeballs on them. ## Calling Out After Kelly's callout, NASA Watch's Keith Cowing joined in condemning the hateful rhetoric that the astronaut seems to be co-signing with his fav's. "I grew up thinking that astronauts should be looked up to," Cowing [posted](). "After 60+ years I still hold that to be true. Astronauts are among the finest of the finest." "But not all of you are," he continued, tagging Clayton. "Be better than this." Cowing [went on to note]() that after he criticized the former astronaut, he was blocked by the account for the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Nebraska, which is run by Clayton. "One less unwelcoming place to visit," the NASA blogger quipped. It's really excellent to see aerospace types come out in support of trans rights, not only because today is Trans Day of Visibility, but also because [legal](), [rhetorical](), and [physical attacks]() against trans people keep getting worse and worse. We agree with Cowing and Kelly: Clayton, who didn't reply to a request for comment, should be ashamed to be endorsing such bigoted beliefs, and it's important that people know it. **More on space politics:** [*White House Freaked Out Over Elon Musk's Selfie With Top Russian Propagandist*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()