NC Lt Gov Facing Calls For Resignation After Calling Members of LGBTQ Community ‘Filth’
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is facing calls to resign after a video emerged of him calling “transgenderism” and homosexuality “filth.”
The Republican Robinson, a prominent member of his local Black community, said students should not be taught about what he referred to as “transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth” in classrooms, prompting calls for his resignation as administrators and parents battle over the oversight of school curriculums. Robinson, who was first elected in 2020, has made headlines for other remarks in the past, such as alleging President Joe Biden is transforming the United States into a “socialist hellhole.”
“There’s no reason anybody, anywhere in America should be telling children about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth,” Robinson said in the video, which was filmed in June at Asbury Baptist Church. “And yes, I called it filth.”
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson says Christians must take control of public schools because children are being abused by being taught "filth": "There's no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth." pic.twitter.com/aXjCPFKTs0
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) October 6, 2021
The White House, as well as gay and transgender rights groups, condemned his words and called for him to resign. “These words are repugnant and offensive,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, who is a native of North Carolina, said, according to multiple outlets. “The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone, not to spread hate and undermine their own office.”
North Carolina's Lt. Governor, Mark Robinson, just angrily referred to the LGBTQ community as "filth."
Then he says, "Yes, I called it filth."
There's no debate here. This is open discrimination. It is completely unacceptable.
Mark Robinson should resign. pic.twitter.com/rUhzXZm8Jd
— Sen. Jeff Jackson (@JeffJacksonNC) October 7, 2021
“There’s no debate here,” said Sen. Jeff Jackson, a Mecklenburg County Democrat. “This is open discrimination. It is completely unacceptable.”
@markrobinsonNC responds to comments he made, saying that children are being taught "filth" in the classroom, referring to what he called "transgenderism and homosexuality." @LorettaBoniti asks him if he thinks what he said was hate speech. #ncpol #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/CJOunwLcRY
— Capital Tonight (@NCCapTonight) October 8, 2021
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) called Robinson’s statement “disgraceful” and “hateful” and said he should resign. “This is not the first time Robinson has shared his discriminatory views, but it should be the last time he gets away with it as an elected leader,” HRC said in a statement. “North Carolinians deserve better than these dehumanizing comments. This incident only reaffirms the serious need for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that would outlaw discrimination and make North Carolina a safer place for LGBTQ+ people to live.”
We're calling on North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to resign in reaction to recently released video that shows him referring to LGBTQ+ people and the movement for equality — including an LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum — as “filth.” Read our statement: https://t.co/CTk5thVmwV
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) October 8, 2021
But despite increased calls for him to step down, Robinson refused to retract his words Friday. “We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We will not change our language,” Robinson said, according to multiple reports. “The language I used, I am not ashamed of it. I will use it in the future because, again, it is time for parents in this state to take a strong stand for their children.”