Tony Bisignano, a Democrat state Senator from Iowa, in an
interview with The Advocate after the GOP voted to remove
transgender Iowans from the state’s civil rights laws:
“We were time certain, which means that we had to vote by
3:30, and we didn’t start [debating] until 12:15. That wasn’t part of the Senate
conduct—we don’t do that in the Senate, but this particular majority has chosen
to do it on a number of large issues. This was just a lead-up, the prelude to
finally just choke [Transgender Iowans] out and try to eliminate them from our culture here in
Iowa. When my colleague brought [this] forth, I said, ‘Well, if you say this is all
[about protecting women and children], then why don’t we eliminate the housing
and the employment and the credit [elements] and all these other important
things because we don’t need ’em?’ ... I did not have the intention to speak to that particular
amendment, but the fact that we were just starting the debate and I could see
where it was going, it was time to take a role to call them out. [My niece] is a
transgender girl … She’s a sweet person, she’s lovely, she’s smart, she’s
talented, and you want to dispel and disgrace and demean these people? I’m
sorry, Tony Bisignano cannot sit in a room in any capacity to see that done to
anybody for anything. I had to call that out because I’m a Catholic; we’re
Christians. And I asked [my Republican colleagues] in a speech a few days ago,
‘What Bible do you use at your Bible study? Because I’ve not seen quotes ever
apply to what you’re doing here.’ I know these people on the other side.
They’re friends. I’ve known some of ’em for years. I can’t believe that in
their heart they believe this is the right thing to do, but they understand
that’s the only way to stay elected ... I’m calling them on it. Transgender
people need champions and voices and not people voting against people because
they’re afraid—they need somebody willing to take it on the chin, and I’m
willing to do that.”
He's so right talking about these people weaponizing their
faith against the trans community when nowhere in the Bible is there a single
anti-trans message.
It’s ignorance and hate, but not Jesus at all.
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