Outrage grows over video showing North Carolina lieutenant governor calling LGBTQ community ‘filth’

 Some North Carolina lawmakers and LGBTQ rights advocates are calling for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to “resign immediately” after a video showing him referring to the LGBTQ community as “filth” was posted on social media earlier this week.

The clip, which was initially shared by the media monitoring group Right Wing Watch, appears to show the Republican politician speaking at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove, a small North Carolina town about 80 miles northeast of Charlotte.

In what looks to be a fiery and passionate speech, Robinson is seen visibly angry when speaking about children’s education in the state.

North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in Raleigh, N.C.
North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in Raleigh, N.C. (Bryan Anderson/AP)

“It is flat-out child abuse. They take your children, and tell them they have to attend school, don’t have a choice. And then some of them will tell them they don’t want you to have a choice where they go to school, you have to send your children here to school,” he says in the video. 

“Then when they get there, what do they teach them? Teach them a bunch of stuff about how to hate America, teach them a bunch of stuff about why they are racist, teach them a bunch of stuff about transgenderism and homosexuality,” Robinson he continues.

“I’m saying this now, and I’ve been saying it, and I don’t care who likes it — those issues have no place in the school,” he says in the video, as growing applause and “amens” can be heard from the pews.

“There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality — any of that filth. And yes, I called it filth, and if you don’t like it that I called it filth — come see me and I’ll explain it to you,” the lieutenant governor added.

On Thursday, State Sen. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, retweeted a clip of Robinson’s speech, calling for his resignation.

“There’s no debate here. This is open discrimination. It is completely unacceptable,” he wrote.

“This fits a pattern from him. He’s made many openly hateful and discriminatory comments about the LGBTQ community and Jewish people,” he added in a follow-up tweet. “When asked about it, he always doubles down.”

Fellow Democrat Sen. Wiley Nickel later retweeted Jackson’s message in agreement.

“Mark Robinson is a disgrace and an embarrassment to our state — he should resign immediately,” he wrote.

“I stand with the LGBTQ Community and hope you will join me in condemning this hate speech from the most senior Republican elected official in our state,” the senator added.

On Friday, the Human Rights Campaign added to the chorus of discontent, calling on Robinson to resign for his “disgraceful, hateful statements” directed at the LGBTQ community.


“North Carolinians deserve better than these dehumanizing comments. This incident only reaffirms the serious need for comprehensive non-discrimination protections that would outlaw discrimination and make North Carolina a safer place for LGBTQ+ people to live,” HRC Interim President Joni Madison told the Daily News in a statement.

Speaking with the local ABC affiliate, WTVD, Robinson doubled down on his comments.

”There is material out there that is pushing these issues and teaching our children about these issues,” he said of alleged sexual content being taught in schools.

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, responded to the incident saying in a statement that “North Carolina is a welcoming state where we value public education and the diversity of our people. It’s abhorrent to hear anyone, and especially an elected official, use hateful rhetoric that hurts people and our state’s reputation.”

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