GOP Congressman Quotes Bible, Tells Republicans They Are ‘Going to Hell’ if They Vote for LGBT Bill

Several Fellow Republicans Walked Out After Attack

A freshman U.S. Congressman quickly made a name for himself Thursday morning at a weekly early morning meeting of Republican lawmakers. GOP Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia quoted Bible verses and told his fellow Republicans that they are “going to hell” if they vote for the a vital spending bill later that morning because of an attached amendment that would protect LGBT workers.

Congressman Allen “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,” The Hill reports.

Rep. Allen “opened the weekly GOP conference meeting with a prayer about the LGBT issue, prior to the vote,” Politico reports. 

“A good number of members were furious,” one Republican told Politico. “There was some Scripture that was read and the like. … Nothing good was going to happen to those that supported [the LGBT provision]. A good number of members were furious.”

A few moderate Republicans who supported the LGBT protections bill reportedly walked out of the room.

“Many members were visibly disturbed by the comments,” a GOP source in the room told The Huffington Post.

“It was f—ing ridiculous,” one GOP lawmaker also in the room, said, according to The Hill. “A lot of members were clearly uncomfortable and upset,” a GOP leadership aide also said.

There does not appear to be video of Rep. Allen’s remarks, nor is it clear exactly which biblical scriptures he quoted.

The bill that Rep. Allen opposes was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. It passed as an amendment Wednesday night, but as NCRM reported, sunk the $37.4 billion water and energy infrastructure spending bill vote later Thursday morning, after Rep. Allen made his remarks. The legislation would have codified into law President Obama’s 2014 executive orders banning anti-LGBT discrimination among federal contractors.

Congressman Allen posted this tweet back in March:

 

UPDATE: 05.27.2016 –
Details of Rep. Allen’s “prayer” revealed:
Republican Prayed Gays Are ‘Worthy of Death’ Before Vote on Bill With LGBT Protections Amendment