HB2 Author Compares Equality Advocates to ‘Taliban,’ Says ‘LGBT Movement Jeopardizes Freedom’
GOP Rep. Dan Bishop’s Emails Reveal His Intent, Motivation Behind Anti-LGBT Law
Republican State Rep. Dan Bishop, the chief sponsor of North Carolina‘s anti-LGBT law HB2, recently likened opponents of his bill to the Taliban, and characterized LGBT people as a danger to freedom. In email exchanges with constituents, which were obtained by the Charlotte Business Journal, Rep. Bishop casually shared his motivation and intent.
In one email conversation about HB2, Rep. Bishop told a constituent, “the LGBT movement jeopardizes freedom.â€
In another, a different constituent wrote offering thanks and support, asking Bishop and his allies in the North Carolina legislature to not “cave in to the Politically Correct Taliban!”
“Y’all should have all of the sane states to coordinate and pass these bills on the same day so one state does not have to stand up to these pompous asses alone,” the HB2 supporter told the Republican lawmaker.
“I LOVE that idea. Taliban,” Bishop, who was first elected in 2014, replied. “Love that too. Not giving up. Ever.”
As NCRM reported Friday, while HB2 is one of the few anti-LGBT laws that have passed this year whose text did not frame it as protecting “religious freedom,” Bishop clearly was motivated by his personal religious beliefs to draft, sponsor, and refuse to consider repealing the law, which many have called both illegal and unconstitutional.
“I don’t fear man. I fear God,” Bishop said in an email obtained by the Charlotte Business Journal, which was sent to a Charlotte resident. That message suggested he believed HB2 was somehow necessary for religious reasons, NCRM reported. “So I won’t be backing down,” Bishop assured the voter, “and the good news is that right now the GOP caucuses in the House and Senate are hanging tough.”
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NC’s GOP House Speaker Falsely Claims DOJ Told North Carolina to ‘Repeal’ HB2 ‘Before Monday’
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Hat tip: The Advocate
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