Donald Trump’s nominee for the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, reiterated his belief that LGBT Americans don’t deserve “extra rights,” reports The Hill.
During Carson’s confirmation hearing on Thursday, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) pressed the HUD nominee about whether he would enforce LGBT protections in the public housing sector.
“Of course, I would enforce all the laws of the land,” Carson responded. “Of course, I think all Americans should be protected by the law.”
“What I have said before is I don’t think anyone should get ‘extra rights,’” he added.
The Hill adds:
Carson, a conservative Christian, has often run afoul of the LGBT community, suggesting they take advantage of “political correctness.”
During a 2015 speech to the Iowa Freedom Summit, Carson addressed religious freedom concerns raised by Christian bakers who argue it violates their faith to bake wedding cakes for gay people.
“[That] is really not all that smart, because they might put poison in that cake,” Carson joked.
The ACLU responded to Carson’s remarks on Twitter by saying they “strongly disagree” that housing protections for LGBT people are “extra rights.”
HUD secretary nominee Ben Carson thinks housing protections for LGBT people are "extra rights." We strongly disagree https://t.co/9C6DgeszE6
— ACLU National (@ACLU) January 12, 2017
Here’s some more reaction on Twitter:
It's called "equal" rights, Ben Carson, not "extra" rights.
Extra rights are only for churches and billionaires. https://t.co/7rc9q8gLx7— Amir (@amiraminiMD) January 12, 2017
Ben Carson seems to be saying housing protections for LGBT people are "extra rights." As I said, #CarsonCant protect us
— Sharita Gruberg (@Shugruberg) January 12, 2017
EQUAL RIGHTS ARE NOT SPECIAL RIGHTS, EQUAL RIGHTS ARE NOT "EXTRA" RIGHTS – Ben Carson is an embarrassment to the country. https://t.co/6C2NLOsArb
— Kameron Tyler (@kamerontyler) January 12, 2017
Equal rights doesn't equate to extra rights, Ben Carson.
— RADIO STEVIE (@radiostevie) January 12, 2017
EXTRA RIGHTS. Ben Carson thinks LGBTQ+ folks want "extra rights" and that they don't deserve them. extra rights. let that sink in. pic.twitter.com/JfYnt9rSNo
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) January 12, 2017
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