Arkansas Lawmaker Calls Trans People an “Abomination” During House Speech

Nothing to see here, just an Arkansas state lawmaker calling transgender people an “abomination” on the floor of the State House.

State Rep. Mary Bentley made the remarks in support of her bill, HB 1570, which bans any kind of gender-affirming care for transgender minors. That bill was vetoed by the governor, but Republicans in the legislature overrode it.

… A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor a man put on a woman’s garments. For all who do so are an abomination…

… Says the female lawmaker wearing pants and a suit jacket.

She’s quoting Deuteronomy 22:5, a chapter that also includes insane biblical laws like banning clothing that mixes wool and linen. She also quoted Genesis 1:27, which says God created Adam and Eve “as male and female.”

These clips are from back in March, but they’re getting play once again now that Arkansas has become one of the most anti-LGBTQ states in the country in terms of legislation.

Bentley, of course, has repeatedly confused church and state. The graduate of Harding College, a Church of Christ-affiliated school, has pushed for the teaching of Creationism — literally Creationism — in public schools. She also co-sponsored a bill to ban abortion even in cases of rape or incest, wants to imprison abortion providers, and allow churches to hold super-spreader events during a pandemic.

(via Boing Boing)