The new head of NASA is an anti-LGBT Republican
The Senate has approved the nomination of a Republican lawmaker with an extensive anti-LGBT record to lead NASA.
Oklahoma representative Jim Bridenstine, who has no background in science, was this week confirmed in the Senate to become the administrator of space agency NASA by a vote of 50-49.
His nomination had been opposed by LGBT groups, who cited his long record of opposition to equality.
GLAAD raised issue with Bridenstine “extensive anti-LGBTQ record,” noting the lawmaker had described President Obama’s transgender inclusive non-discrimination guidance as “lawless federal bullying.”
Bridenstine has also called for the repeal of marriage equality, saying it runs “contrary to millennia of human experience.”
Zeke Stokes, Vice President of Programs at GLAAD. said: “President Trump’s nod to Jim Bridenstine as NASA’s next leader is yet another attack by this administration on LGBTQ people.
“It’s time for the Senate to take a hard look at the nominations they are confirming and the potential ramifications these anti-LGBTQ politicians stand to have on the LGBTQ employees in their agencies and within our country as a whole. Midterm elections are around the corner, and our community has a very good memory.”
The lawmaker was a sponsor of the Marriage Protection Act, a bill that attempted to ban courts form hearing cases related to a ban on same-sex marriage.
He said: “I will not stand idly by and let the Supreme Court overthrow the people’s voice and legislative bodies. Activist judges will not decide the fate of this issue, and I will continue to fight for traditional marriage.”
Bridenstine also campaigned against allowing openly gay kids to take part in the Boy Scouts.
He said: “Some of us in America still believe in the concept of sexual morality, that sex is intended for one man and one woman within the institution of marriage. Organisations that hold this philosophy and promote it among our youth should be commended–or at least, you would think, tolerated.
“Unfortunately, the intolerant left bullies and browbeats private organisations like the Boy Scouts into accepting their philosophy. Notice, they didn’t start their own organisation; they went after the Boy Scouts of America.
“The left’s agenda is not about tolerance and it’s not about diversity of thought. It’s about promoting a world view of relativism, where there is no right and wrong, then using the full force of the government to silence opposition and reshape organisations like the Boy Scouts into instruments for social change.
“To my friends on the left, this is not tolerance. But here’s the good news about true tolerance: the most tolerant One of all has the ability to redeem us all.”
After President Obama issued guidance attempting to protect transgender children from discrimination and bullying – since rescinded by the Trump administration – Bridenstine said: “We must stand against President Obama’s aggressive attempts to fundamentally transform America.
“Congress must use the ‘power of the purse’ to combat this executive overreach. Parents and schools should assert their rights to govern themselves and not submit to Obama’s lawless federal bullying.”
