An ad sent via text message falsely attributed to an LGBTQ+ advocacy group targets a Florida state senator running for Congress in what officials call a “cowardly, dishonest” and “homophobic” attack.

According to the nonprofit Equality Florida, the text attacks state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who currently represents a portion of Miami-Dade County and is running for Florida’s 24th congressional district seat. Jones is an openly gay man.

The ad claims that Jones was not allowed to donate blood because he is positive for HIV/AIDS. That statement is false, according to the Miami Herald, citing comment from Jones.

Equality Florida says it has endorsed Jones since Aug. 3, and that the message also includes a link to a CBS story that purports to back up the falsehood. That article references an incident in 2020 in which Jones said he was not allowed to donate plasma because of his sexuality—not because of any diagnosis.

“This is a disgusting attack against a public servant who has poured his heart and soul into his community. We can all see it for what it is: a desperate attempt by a shady, dark money group supporting one of Shev’s opponents that traffics in ugly tropes, misrepresents a trusted statewide organization, and weaponizes a Black man’s identity,” Brandon Wolf, a spokesperson for Equality Florida, said in a statement.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also condemned the text messages.

“The homophobic text messages targeting State Senator Shevrin Jones are cowardly, dishonest, and have no place in our political discourse. Using someone’s private life and identity as a weapon isn’t just cruel — it’s a deliberate attempt to distract voters from the real issues facing our community,” she wrote. “Shev Jones has spent his career serving South Florida with integrity, and no smear campaign changes that. Miami-Dade is home to a proud and diverse LGBTQ+ community, and attacks like this one don’t reflect who we are. I will always be proud of my friend Shevrin Jones, and I call on whoever is behind this campaign to be identified and held accountable. Voters deserve honest campaigns focused on the issues — not fear and hate.”

Equality Florida called the fake attribution “a gross violation of federal election law” and said it would “pursue all avenues necessary to hold the perpetrators accountable.”

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.