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On AR Watch—an online watchdog group dedicated to publicizing corrupt or problematic figures in the Arkansas state legislature—just published a video showing one Arkansas Republican state representative calling trans people "abominations."
The lawmaker said it while speaking on the Arkansas House floor.
Rep. @MaryBentley73 calling Trans people abominations while speaking from the #arleg house floor. \n\nBentley: \nUses power to attack marginalized communities \nLacks empathy and professionalism\nWeaponizes the Bible to pass hate-filled legislation\n\nWe can do better in #arpx.pic.twitter.com/G4Ni64Bpxj— On AR Watch (@On AR Watch) 1623343224
GOP Representative Mary Bentley—while arguing for the adoption of a bill to ban gender-affirming treatments for all trans youth in the state of Arkansas—quoted a Bible passage suggesting trans people are unholy.
"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor man put on any woman's garments. For all who do so are an abomination."
Bentley's hypocrisy was called out immediately.
"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor man put on a woman's garments," said Bentley. "For all who do so are an abomination."\n\nShe often wears pants, and is thus herself an abomination based on her own words.\n\nCan Republicans ever not be hypocrites?pic.twitter.com/3b0sFE2A7r— Frances_Larina (@Frances_Larina) 1623386292
Bentley and her Republican colleagues were able to get the bill, nicknamed the "Arkansas Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act," passed and made law through an override of the governor's veto.
When the clip was posted, Twitter exploded with condemnation of Bentley's hurtful, intolerant parochial speech.
Arkansas' constitution nor the United States Constitution establish a theocracy. Bentley's Evangelical Christian views and Bible references have no place in determining state law.
Umm\u2026isn\u2019t she wearing a suit jacket? Am I wrong or initially suit jackets were for men? But I\u2019m sure that doesn\u2019t apply— Jennie D (@Jennie D) 1623433046
This kind of bigotry and nastiness has no place in a civilized society.\nWhat does that say about Arkansas and its people?— EarthSine (@EarthSine) 1623370765
Her tweeter feed is mostly brietbart, Q nonsense, Onan, xenophobic, racist disturbing!— GGSandi (@GGSandi) 1623360869
A few dusted off some biblical knowledge of their own.
She is blathering on about Deuteronomy 22:5 which is frequently cherry picked as a 'rule' targeting clothing. A quick dive into scholarly articles will reveal in hard translation it refers to not taking part rituals to do with Venus worship that involve women dressed as soldiers.— squeakyfrom (@squeakyfrom) 1623397087
On AR Watch went on to explain the slew of other anti-LGBTQ+ legislative efforts spearheaded or backed by Bentley.
"Soon after she filed HB1749, which would require teachers to call students by the name on their birth certificates. Bently claimed this wasn't an attack on Trans kids, but what else would it be? HB1749 failed, but four other anti-trans bills passed and have been signed into law."
"Recently in a legislative committee meeting, Bently and other Watchlist members, raked University of Arkansas officials over the coals for Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz's recommendation to remove to move Fulbrights statute from Old Main. Bently claimed that efforts of inclusion are divisive and lead to exclusion."
"She cited Christianity, but was unable to pinpoint exactly how Christians had been excluded."
With the GOP carrying an overwhelming majority in the Arkansas state legislature, it's difficult to see any way to slow down Bentley and her equally intolerant colleagues use of their Evangelical Christian beliefs to bully LGBTQ+ people.