WASHINGTON, DC — HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof issued the following statement after media reports that Georgia Republican Representative Rick Allen opened a conference meeting by reciting a Bible verse saying LGBT people are “worthy of death”:
“House Speaker Paul Ryan and the other members of the House Republican Leadership have a responsibility to immediately condemn Representative Allen’s vile and dangerous remarks this morning at an official meeting of the House Republican Conference, during which he said LGBT people are ‘worthy of death.’ At a time when LGBT people face staggering rates of discrimination, harassment and violence, Representative Allen’s comments spread hate that does real harm. Representative Allen should apologize or be censured — and Republican leaders must make clear that they will not tolerate lawmakers who sow hatred and violence against LGBT people.”
The Hill reported that Rep. Rick Allen, a Georgia freshman, launched the GOP’s regular policy meeting in the Capitol basement by reading a Bible passage condemning homosexuality and suggesting that supporters of the LGBT provision, which passed the House the night before, were defying Christian tenets, attendees said.
Several Republicans walked out of the room in disgust.
“House Republicans’ thirst to discriminate against the LGBT community is so strong that they are willing to vote down their own appropriations bill in order to prevent progress over bigotry,” Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said.
