Virginia legislator says trans opponent defies ‘Laws of Nature’

Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall, who is up for re-election next week, told Religious Right radio host Sandy Rios that he would not refer to his opponent, who is a transgender woman, by using her correct pronouns because he “never flunked biology” and understands the “laws of nature,” writes Jared Holt on Right Wing Watch.

Marshall was attacking his opponent Danica Roem, who would be the first openly transgender state legislator if elected. He lamented Roem’s support for educational programs that teach children about different gender identities and used Roem’s identity as a transgender woman to further attack her on national radio.

“It is not a civil right to masquerade your fantasies as reality,” Marshall said. “But standing up to this is somewhat difficult because you get called all kinds of names. And if you’re going to be shying away because someone calls you a bigot or a transphobe or whatever it is, it probably is not something that you should attempt.”

Marshall went on to explain that he was not going to back away from the issue.

“I’ve drawn a line. I’m not leaving it, because I don’t make the laws of nature but I think I understand them, at least at this fundamental level. I never flunked biology, so I’m not going to call a man a woman, period,” Marshall said.

Responding to Marshall’s latest bigotry, People For the American Way Vice President for Communications and Research, Drew Courtney said, “Bob Marshall has spent his entire career pushing nasty attacks on LGBT people. He never misses an opportunity to say something hateful. Over the years he’s become a caricature of a right-wing bigot. Instead of focusing on issues that actually affect families in his district, he’s used his office to try to make the Commonwealth of Virginia as intolerant as he is. Luckily he’s failed more often than he’s succeeded.”