Florida state lawmaker Rep. Webster Barnaby (R) called transgender people “demons” and compared them to “mutants” from the X-Men comic book series during a hearing.
Barnaby’s remarks were made while arguing in support of a proposed law that would prohibit self-proclaimed transgender people from using public restrooms that do not correlate with their biological sex.
“The Lord rebuke you, Satan, and all of your demons and all of your imps will come parade before us,” he said after a group of transgender lawmakers spoke against the bill. “That’s right, I called you demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world.”
BASED: Florida Republican Rep. Webster Barnaby goes scorched earth on transgenderism & the total dysfunction of our society today.
“That’s right – I called you Demons and Imps.” pic.twitter.com/EyW57Geokf
— David J. Reilly 🇺🇸 (@realDaveReilly) April 11, 2023
“My righteous indignation is stirred,” Barnaby said. “I am sick and tired of this. You can test me and try to take me on, but I promise you I’ll win every time.”
“It’s like I’m watching an X-Men movie,” Barnaby said. “It’s like we have mutants living among us on planet Earth. Some people don’t like that, but that’s a fact.”
“This is the planet Earth, where God created men, male and women, female,” Barnaby stressed. “I’m a proud Christian, conservative Republican. I’m not on the fence.”
The remarks reportedly took both Republican and Democratic lawmakers by surprise, prompting the state legislator to issue a brief apology.
“I would like to apologize to the trans community for referring to you as demons,” he said.
Florida GOP legislator calls transgender people "mutants," "demons" during hearing https://t.co/T1zciItAVV pic.twitter.com/zm5WaykVZ3
— The Hill (@thehill) April 11, 2023
The bill, dubbed the “Safety in Private Spaces Act,” would see people being charged with a second-degree misdemeanor if they use a public restroom or changing facility “inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth, and task schools with establishing disciplinary procedures for students who violate the proposed law,” reports The Hill.
Under the proposed legislation, Florida jails will also be required “to house inmates based on their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender identity, conflicting with federal guidelines.”
Despite the controversy, Florida Republicans advanced the bill later that day. The Safety In Private Spaces Act is now set to head to the House floor for another vote.
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