Florida State Rep. Webster Barnaby during a committee hearing on April 10, 2023.
The Florida Channel
A GOP member of the Florida House of Representatives called trans people “demons and imps” on Monday.
Rep. Webster Barnaby made the comments during a debate about bathroom usage.
After Republican and Democrat lawmakers expressed their disbelief, he apologized for his remarks.
A Florida Republican lawmaker made derogatory remarks about transgender Floridians on Monday, comparing them to “demons and imps” during a committee hearing.
Rep. Webster Barnaby was speaking during a debate on a bill that would make it a second-degree misdemeanor offense for someone to use a bathroom that does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
The “Safety in Private Spaces Act” would be enforced at educational institutions, public shelters, healthcare facilities, and other public spaces.
Barnaby, a member of the Florida House of Representatives since 2020, spoke on the House floor after LGBTQ advocates and transgender Floridians argued against the bill, characterizing it as a tool for potential harassment, according to Politico.
“I’m looking at society today and it’s like I’m watching an X-Men movie,” Barnaby said, adding that it was as if there are “mutants” living on Earth.
Barnaby, raising his voice, went on to say: “This is the planet Earth, where God created men, male, and women, female. I’m a proud Christian conservative Republican, I’m not on the fence.”
The Florida lawmaker, who has previously said opening prayers for former President Donald Trump’s rallies, then went even further.
“The Lord, rebuke you Satan, and all of your demons and all of your imps that come and parade before us,” he said. “That’s right, I called you demons and imps, who come and parade before and pretend that you are part of this world.’
—Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) April 10, 2023
Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the hearing appeared to be shocked by the comments, with Democratic state Rep. Kristen Arrington saying she was “thrown off” by Barnaby’s remarks, per Politico.
“You’re not an evil being,” said state Rep. Chase Tramont, a Republican, addressing the speakers who opposed the bill, Politico reported.
Shortly afterwards, Barnaby apologized for his anti-trans comments.
“I referred to trans people as demons,” Barnaby said, per Politico. “I would like to apologize to the trans community for referring to you as demons.”
Barnaby did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
The House advanced the proposal, putting Florida one step closer to joining the likes of North Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, and Arkansas in passing bills that bar transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identities.