Major media figures claim that Josh Hawley is ‘transphobic’ because he thinks men can’t get pregnant
Multiple prominent media figures took the side of Berkeley law professor Khiara Bridges, who accused Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) of being "transphobic" because he does not believe that men can get pregnant in a viral clip on Tuesday.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the impact of overturning Roe v. Wade, Bridges repeatedly used the torturous phrase "people with a capacity for pregnancy" as a gender-neutral substitute for "women." When Hawley called her out on it, highlighting the absurdity of erasing the word "women" from a discussion on abortion rights, Bridges told him that his "line of questioning is transphobic."
Bridges said Hawley was "denying that trans people exist" and opening them up to violence because he would not recognize "that men can get pregnant."
Some supposedly objective media outlets revealed which side they took in their coverage of the back-and-forth.
The Washington Post said Hawley "refused to acknowledge that some transgender men can get pregnant," which is inaccurate. Hawley never said that "transgender men" can't get pregnant — his position is that "transgender men" are women, because women are the only people who can get pregnant.
\u201cThis @washingtonpost news story hits @HawleyMO for \u201crefusing to acknowledge\u201d men can get pregnant\n\nWe need a total and complete shutdown of WaPo until we figure out what is going on\u201d— Brent Scher (@Brent Scher) 1657677316
Most mainstream news headlines reported that Hawley was "called" or "accused" of asking "transphobic" questions, framing the story more neutrally. But a CNN video used the headline, "Hawley called out for 'transphobic' questions," which adopted the left's view of the exchange.
The U.K. Independent had more direct bias, writing that Bidges "rebuked" Hawley for his "transphobic" questions.
"In a series of extraordinary testimony to a Senate committee on the future of abortion in the US after the dissolve of Roe v Wade, an abortion rights advocate and law professor issued a sharp rebuke to Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who appeared to dismiss that transgender people could become pregnant," the Independent reported.
Meanwhile, progressive media declared unambiguous victory for Bridges over Hawley, who they insisted "got owned."
Salon and HuffPo each ran headlines that insisted the Missouri Republican was "schooled." Jezebel published a video titled, "Berkeley Law Professor Eviscerates Sen. Josh Hawley at Post-Roe Hearing." Heartland Signal said Hawley was "put in place" by Bridges.
Vox wrote that Hawley used "transphobic rhetoric to rile up the GOP's base" and sided with Bridges' contested claim that Hawley's language equates to violence.
"Bridges’s concerns reflect the fact that lawmakers’ political attacks on trans people — including denying their existence, and using legislation to limit their freedom of movement, access to activities, and availability of health care — have coincided with an increase in physical violence," Li Zhou wrote for Vox. "According to a 2021 Time report, anti-trans violence has surged in the wake of an increase in legislation targeting trans people. A 2021 UCLA report also found that trans people, particularly Black and brown trans people, were significantly more likely to be victims of violent crime than cis people."
Progressives on Twitter also praised Bridges and mocked Hawley.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Hawley "feigned shock at the recognition that he incites violence."
\u201cThank you for your service, Professor Bridges\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffd\n\nAlso lol @ Hawley\u2019s feigned shock at the recognition that he incites violence. The man raised a fist w/ Jan 6th-ers who yelled \u201cHang Mike Pence\u201d & fundraised off it.\n\nNow he wants to be all \u201cMe?? Opening people to violence??\ud83d\ude24\u201d\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1657651252
"KA-BLOW" tweeted Imani Gandy, the senior editor of law and policy for Rewire News Group, after Bridges declared Hawley was denying transgender people exist because he doesn't think men can get pregnant.
\u201cHawley: Are you saying I'm transphobic.\n\nBridges: your line of questioning is. Denying their existence leads to violence. \n\nHawley: I'm not denying they exist.\n\nBridges: Do you believe men can get pregnant?\n\nHawley: No.\n\nBridges: Then you're denying they exist.\n\nKA-BLOW\u201d— \u2693\ufe0fImani Two-Kitchens Gandy\u2693\ufe0f (@\u2693\ufe0fImani Two-Kitchens Gandy\u2693\ufe0f) 1657641538
Many others ridiculed Hawley for his supposed embarrassment by a professor who thinks men can be women and women can be men, rendering the distinctions between the two sexes meaningless.
But Stephen Porter, the assistant editor for USA Today Opinion, urged progressives, "Don't feign ignorance about Sen. Josh Hawley's 'questions.'"
"He was making a statement. His claim? That trans men & nonbinary people who can get pregnant are ~actually~ women. He's asserting that their reproductive organs define their gender," Porter tweeted.
"That's literally ✨transphobic✨," he said.
\u201cDon\u2019t feign ignorance about Sen. Josh Hawley\u2019s \u201cquestions.\u201d He was making a statement. His claim? That trans men & nonbinary people who can get pregnant are ~actually~ women. He\u2019s asserting that their reproductive organs define their gender. \n\nThat\u2019s literally \u2728transphobic\u2728.\u201d— Steven Porter (@Steven Porter) 1657688124
In a lengthy thread, Porter went on to say that Hawley "derives some inhumane political benefit" from making "transphobic comments." He demanded that people "sympathetic to Hawley's message" but who don't want to be labeled transphobic "show us what you think it means to treat transgender people with kindness, dignity & respect."
\u201cMaybe you object to the \u201corthodoxy\u201d of trans-inclusive language. Then show us how to speak thoughtfully about reproductive health care for people who have the capacity to get pregnant & don\u2019t identify as women. Show us a better way.\u201d— Steven Porter (@Steven Porter) 1657688124
Responding to the hysterics Wednesday morning, Hawley told Fox News that Democrats "have lost their minds."
"The Democrats have become such extremists. Now their official line is men can get pregnant — and if you disagree, you’re violent," Hawley said. "They have lost their minds and the whole country can see it."
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NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is under fire for saying homosexuality and transgenderism is 'filth' that shouldn't be taught in schools
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) is defending language he used in a church message describing homosexuality and transgenderism as "filth" as state Democrats express outrage at his comments and at least one lawmaker has called for him to resign.
The lieutenant governor told WRAL-TV on Friday he is "unashamed" of language he used at Asbury Baptist Church in June, when he said that children should not be exposed to "transgenderism, homosexuality or any of that filth."
"There is no reason anybody, anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality or any of that filth," Robinson said. "And yes, I called it filth. And if you don't like it that I called it filth, come see me about it."
Robinson told the church congregation that it is child abuse to force parents to send their children to school, tell them where to send their kids to school, and then teach them in those schools to hate America and that they are racist.
He also condemned critical race theory and Black Lives Matter activists, calling them "morons" and "socialist liars and nitwits."
"Black lives do not matter to Black Lives Matter," Robinson said. "You know how I know that? Because if they did you know where they would be instead of being at the police station? They would be down there at the gang hangout, at the drug dealer's house burning that down. They'd be down at the abortion clinic burning that down if Black lives really mattered."
His comments drew widespread condemnation from Democrats, with state lawmaker Sen. Jeff Jackson (D) calling for Robinson's resignation.
"There's no debate here. This is open discrimination. It is completely unacceptable," Jackson, a candidate for U.S. Senate, said. "Mark Robinson should resign."
A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Rory Cooper called Robinson's remarks "abhorrent" and said he used "hateful rhetoric that hurts people and our state's reputation," the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
But Robinson is unapologetic.
"We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We will not change our language," Robinson told WRAL. "The language I used, I am not ashamed of it. I will use it in the future because, again, it is time for parents in this state to take a strong stand for their children."
He said the governor's opinion "makes no difference whatsoever."
"I am tired of folks on the right being demonized for our speech while folks on the left burn, beat, rob, loot — take over entire cities and get a pass," he said.
He added that he wasn't speaking in his official capacity as lieutenant governor when he was at the church, only as a private citizen speaking about his religious convictions.
"To me, it is against the tenets of my religion," he said of homosexuality and transgenderism. "But we do not live in a theocracy, and I do not have the right to tell anyone what they practice in their home."
Elaborating on his position, he said schools should keep those adult topics "absolutely off limits."
"Those are adult topics that should stay in an adult place. They have no business around children," he said. "Homosexuality is not a culture. Homosexuality is a sexual preference, and sexual preferences, I believe, do not need to be discussed in our schools."
LGBTQ activists said Robinson's comments were hateful and even "dangerous."
"At a time when LGBTQ people, especially those with multiple layers of marginalization, need a supportive state, Robinson offered transphobia and homophobia instead," said Kendra Johnson, director of Equality NC. "No one who thinks like this should be in a position of power, and these discriminatory attitudes underscore the need for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections in North Carolina."
"These kinds of comments, they are literally dangerous. This is a weapon," said Allison Scott, director of impact and innovation for the Campaign for Southern Equality. "Whether that is his meaning or not, it is his words that are actually painting the picture that we as a group should not exist."
Democratic state lawmakers also lined up to criticize Robinson and call for his resignation.
"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," Sen. Wiley Nickel (D) tweeted.
State Rep. Marcia Morey (D), an LGBTQ lawmaker, told the News & Observer that Robinson's rhetoric was "degrading and undignified" and called on him to apologize.
Rep. Deb Butler (D) said the lieutenant governor is "clearly a very ignorant and petty fellow."
"He is just a very small-minded, little man in a big, gruff body, which makes him a bully. And nobody likes a bully, particularly an ignorant one," she said.
North Carolina Republican Party officials have largely remained silent on Robinson's remarks, but GOP political consultants took to social media to condemn what the lieutenant governor said.
"There is no future for a political party that is anti-gay," Brent Woodcox, senior policy counsel for Senate Leader Phil Berger (R), tweeted. "There just isn't a large enough constituency in this country for the attitude. The world changed. Some politicians are catching up."
Madison Downing, a former consultant for House Speaker Tim Moore (R), tweeted: "If people don't call him out, then we're enabling him. We are a big tent party, or this party is not mine anymore. We should embrace every person regardless of their orientation."
And Lawrence Shaheen Jr., a Republican lawyer and consultant, said, "Our @NCGOP is a big tent party that should be accepting of any and all people regardless of their sexual orientation. Period. End of discussion. Jesus would not have wanted it any other way."
Robinson denied that he's bigoted and said to those offended by his remarks he's "sorry they feel contrary to the way I feel in a spiritual aspect."
"This issue, as it is being raised right now, I believe, is an attempt to intimidate people into not speaking up against it being introduced into the classroom," he said.
Watch Robinson's full speech: