Florida Republican Compares Transgender People To 'X-Men' 'Mutants'

Republicans demonization of transgender people reached new levels on Monday when Florida Rep. Webster Barnaby (R) compared the group to mutants during a speech at the state capital on Monday.

The congressman who represents the city of Deltona, 30 minutes from Daytona Beach made the comment while discussing Florida House Bill 1521 , which criminalizes the use of public bathrooms for transgender people.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat , Barnaby called himself a proud Christian conservative Republican before likening transgender citizens to characters from the Marvel comic book saga X-Men.

Florida Republican Rep. Webster Barnaby directly compared trans people to mutants in X-Men and called the trans people, including children, present in the room \"demons and imps.\"

This was during debate for HB1421 that would criminalize trans people using bathrooms. pic.twitter.com/y5VsCKeAfJ

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Florida Republican Rep. Webster Barnaby directly compared trans people to mutants in X-Men and called the trans people, including children, present in the room "demons and imps."

This was during debate for HB1421 that would criminalize trans people using bathrooms. pic.twitter.com/y5VsCKeAfJ
Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) April 10, 2023

Taking the mic after a number of transgender Floridians rebuked the bill, the legislator told his peers, We have people that live among us today on planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet.

He went on to call transgender people demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world.

The bill was later approved by Floridas Commerce Committee and is now headed to a vote by the entire House. A Senate version of the bill has to be approved by the Fiscal Policy Committee before their chambers vote.

After Barnabys comments, Kissimmee, Florida, politician Rep. Kristen Arrington (D) stepped in to celebrate the transgender activists in the audience for their bravery.