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North Dakota Governor Blasts Anti-LGBT+ Resolution, Calls It Insulting And Divisive

North Dakota’s Republican governor, Doug Burgum, blasted an anti-LGBT+ resolution, passed by hundreds of his party’s delegates, for using homophobic language, calling it insulting and divisive. 


The resolution states that many “LGBT practices are unhealthy and dangerous, sometimes endangering or shortening life and sometimes infecting society at large.”


In a statement, Governor Burgum denounced the resolution, stating: “As I've long said, all North Dakotans deserve to be treated equally and live free of discrimination. There’s no place for the hurtful and divisive rhetoric in the NDGOP resolutions.”




The state GOP's executive director, Corby Kemmer, apologised through a statement for the language in that resolution, which was first reported on by The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead on Wednesday.


“The resolutions were presented for an up or down vote, and no one resolution was voted on individually," Kemmer said.


“The intent of the delegates was to stand up for individual and religious liberties, and, unfortunately, this language falls woefully short of that goal. We regret any offense this may have caused, and we will be reconsidering this resolution at a future meeting to bring it more in line with what delegates were attempting to communicate,” he said.


State Rep. Josh Boschee, a Fargo Democrat who is the North Dakota House minority leader and the only openly gay member of the Legislature, said the GOP resolution contains “blatant lies.”


“This is nothing to help the image of North Dakota,” Boschee said. “This is just a gut punch to see they would approve language like this.”


Although North Dakota has fought against protections for gay, lesbian and transgender people, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that a landmark 1964 civil rights law protects them from discrimination in employment, in a resounding victory for LGBT+ rights from a conservative court, as ‘CBS News’ report. 


This is not the first time Burgum has spoken out against his party’s stance on LGBT+ issues. He has long been critical of the GOP-led Legislature's stance on social issues, including being outspoken on its failure to pass the anti-discrimination bill. Burgum supported the legislation last year.




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