Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, said Thursday that the movement in the U.S. to let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice is one of several “symptoms of insanity” that is bringing the country down.
“Someday it will be written in the rise and fall of the United States that the greatest, most powerful country in the history of the world showed symptoms of insanity when it reached the pinnacle of its greatness and success, and this will be one of the symptoms that was written about,” Gohmert said on the House floor.
“So here we are, at the place in our history where insanity in the name of political correctness rules the day, common sense no longer common,” Gohmert added. “And to the point that the current leader in the Republican campaign for president even says North Carolina should not have taken action that in essence says men, which would include sexual predators, should not be allowed to go into women’s restrooms.”
Gohmert was referring to Donald Trump, who said Thursday morning that he did not support North Carolina’s effort to prevent local authorities to allow transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their sexual identity.
Trump said the North Carolina law aimed at preventing those decisions has driven business away, and also said it would be too expensive for companies to create new bathrooms just for transgender people. Trump said North Carolina should “leave it the way it is.”
But Gohmert said North Carolina is just trying to protect kids who could be at a higher risk of being in the bathroom with pedophiles if transgender people get their way.
“It’s incredible that people are outraged at North Carolina,” he said. “Anyone that has children who are female, do you realize you want men to say ‘I’m transgender’ and to get to go in where your little girl is going to the bathroom, where you can’t go because you’re not transgender?”
“What is wrong with saying, ‘You know what? When it comes to going to the restroom, females will go to female, males will go to male?'” he said.
