The human rights commissioner who called gay people an ‘abomination to the human race’ is finally going to resign
Kenick El attacked gay and trans people on Facebook. (Kenick El/ Facebook)
A human rights commissioner in the United States is set to resign after he called gay people an “abomination to the human race.”
LaKendrick Coburn El – also known as Kenick El – is a human rights commissioner in Virginia, but found himself embroiled in controversy last week when he hit out at LGBT+ people on Facebook.
In a statement released on Friday to WTKR, El said he would resign following public pressure – but not until the commission’s next meeting.
“Everybody’s human rights is to be respected. We are to love one another, we are to show mercy and forgiveness to one another, and that’s why I am committed to resigning on October 31 at the end of the commission meeting after I share my views with my colleagues,” he said.
“However, I do respect the government. I respect the fact that I was appointed to this seat,” he continued.
Kenick El asked people to ‘stop promoting sexuality to our children’.
Pressure had mounted for El to resign following his comments on Facebook. On Thursday, Virginia Beach mayor Bobby Dyer said it would be “inappropriate” for him to continue serving on the commission.
In one of the Facebook posts – which was shared last week – El urged people to “stop promoting sexuality to our children”.
“Two men or two women together is an abomination according to my faith,” he continued.
“I’m not with the passive agenda turning a blind eye. I’m not with the secret agenda. Stop promoting your sexual behaviour expecting special treatment based on who you’re having sex with.”
We are to love one another, we are to show mercy and forgiveness to one another, and that’s why I am committed to resigning on October 31 at the end of the commission meeting after I share my views with my colleagues.
On October 21 he shared an article about a trans woman convicted of sexually assaulting a child and wrote: “This is why we need to stop giving men in dresses passes.
“I have daughters and I won’t accept them sharing a restroom with a grown man suffering from this mental illness.
“Men trying to be women and women trying to be men is really confusing our children and I’m tired of seeing this nonsense promoted to children,” he added.
Each commissioner has ‘individual beliefs’ and don’t ‘always agree’, chair of human rights commission said.
The chair of the human rights commission Sylvia Nery-Strickland later condemned his comments – but did not say he would lose his position.
She told 13News Now: “Kenick El is speaking as an individual and does not speak on behalf of the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
“We are a commission, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of city council. The HRC is a very diverse group of individuals who come together for the common good and equality for all.
“However, each commissioner has individual beliefs, and we do not always agree.
“I personally do not agree with the postings and other commissioners have contacted me and they do not agree as well, but rather support and value our fellow LGBT commissioners, family members, friends and supporters.”
