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Duggar mom records robocall against Ark. non-discrimination ordinance

Duggar mom records robocall against Ark. non-discrimination ordinance
Michelle Duggar
Michelle Duggar

Update: The ordinance passed by a vote of 6-2 on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Michelle Duggar, matriarch of the Duggar clan in TLC’s reality series “19 Kids and Counting,” has recorded a robocall urging Fayetteville, Ark., residents to oppose an LGBT-inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance.

The call was placed to area residents Monday urging them to speak out against the ordinance, which is scheduled to be voted on Tuesday evening by city council members, reports the Fayetteville Flyer.

Under the proposal, landlords and business owners could be investigated and prosecuted for unjustly evicting or firing someone because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic background, marital status or veteran status.

In the call, Duggar echoes the claims of several local pastors and residents who flooded city council chambers earlier this month to speak out against the ordinance, claiming the measure would lead to women going topless at public swimming pools, men using women’s restrooms, and allow pedophiles and sexual predators to abuse people.

Listen:

“Hello, this is Michelle Duggar. I’m calling to inform you of some shocking news that would affect the safety of Northwest Arkansas women and children. The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men – yes, I said men – to use women’s and girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only.

“I don’t believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls. I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space. We should never place the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child. Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool’s private changing area?

“I still believe that we are a society that puts women and children first. Women, young ladies and little girls deserve to use the restroom or any other facility in peace and safety. Will you speak up for protecting women and children?”

In Arkansas, a person can be fired for being gay or evicted for no other reason than being a transgender tenant. The call is being funded by the Arkansas Family Council.

Duggar’s eldest child, Josh Duggar, is a policy director at the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, an anti-gay hate group headed by “traditional family” activist Tony Perkins.

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