"He listed many freedoms Americans enjoy, including "freedom to be who you are, what you want, and pursue your American dream." "In recent years, as our politics has become more corrosive and coarse, we have lost sight of a simple truth - we are all Americans, yes, but we are all human beings, created in God's image," he continued, invoking the Bible's demand to "love thy neighbor as thyself.""
""Let me be clear: LGBTQ+ people, and especially our Transgender community members, are not an enemy or a threat." "We should never allow rhetoric to paint them as dangerous simply for being who they are. It is time to take the temperature down. LGBTQ+ people are our equals and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect." "Let us resolve our differences with civil debate and a free exchange of ideas - not with violence or hate.""
Representative Mike Lawler posted a lengthy Facebook message affirming freedom and listing rights such as the freedom to be oneself and pursue the American dream. He invoked religious language, saying all people are created in God's image and citing the command to love thy neighbor as thyself. He urged recognition of everyone's worth, called for more productive disagreement, and warned against painting those who differ as evil or violent. He explicitly stated that LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender community members, are not enemies or threats and called for dignity, respect, and civil debate instead of violence. His remarks prompted mixed reactions in comments urging him to practice what he preaches.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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