Dr. Ben Carson resorts to anti-transgender fearmongering to defend rolling back protections for homeless LGBTQ people

GLAAD President: Dr. Carson is unfit to be the head of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today condemned Dr. Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, for defending the roll back of regulations to that aimed to protect transgender people in homeless shelters by promoting the derogatory myth that these protections would compromise others’ safety or privacy.

When asked how transgender protections would in any way impact the rights of others served by homeless shelters during a line of questioning by Rep. Mike Quigley, Ben Carson responded: "I'll give you an example: there are some women who said they were not comfortable with the idea of being in a shelter, of being in a shower, and somebody who had a very different anatomy."

Watch the GLAAD released video here:


“It is because of derogatory myths like this, which have been debunked time and time again, that the transgender community faces disproportionate levels of discrimination and homelessness.” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “Today’s blatant and factually inaccurate anti-transgender rhetoric is the latest in a long line of uninformed and biased statements about LGBTQ people that make Dr. Carson unfit to be the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

This is a common fearmongering argument that is often used by anti-LGBTQ activists to target transgender protections, which has been debunked by more than 250 sexual assault and domestic violence organizations around the county. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey reveals that nearly one-third of respondents have experienced homelessness and 70% of those who did stay in a shelter reported high levels of mistreatment, including sexual and physical assault or being kicked out because of being transgender. Carson’s anti-LGBTQ record extends well before his confirmation as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development including insisting sexual orientation is a choice and equating marriage equality with bestiality.

Background: Secretary Ben Caron’s Anti-LGBTQ History

  • In a Fox News appearance, equated gay people with bestiality and the North American Man/Boy Love Association: "Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn't matter what they are. They don't get to change the definition."

  • Claimed marriage equality advocates are "directly attacking the relationship between God and His people."

  • Claimed marriage for same-sex couples is part of the "new world order."

  • Responded to criticism about his comments linking being gay to NAMBLA and bestiality by accusing liberals of racism: "They’re the most racist people there are"..."Because they put you in a little category, a box: "You have to think this way, how could you dare come off the plantation?"

  • Said marriage for same-sex couples is "finger-in-your-eye-to-God" territory.

  • Insisted that sexual orientation is a choice "[b]ecause a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question."

  • Speaking at a post-event press conference, joked that same-sex couples seeking a wedding cake from an anti-LGBTQ baker "is really not all that smart because they might put poison in that cake."

  • Called on Congress to remove judges who decided in favor of marriage equality.

  • Said he "would cFhertainly get involved" in reversing the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling.


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