GOP lawmaker celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month with demand that schools teach “Sodom & Gomorrah”

North Dakota state Rep. Brandon Prichard (R) said that schools should teach the Bible story of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah – which God destroyed – as a form of “LGBTQ history” in a social media post that was published on October 1, the first day of LGBTQ+ History Month.

“All schools should have LGBTQ history taught and lesson one should be Sodom and Gomorrah,” the 22-year-old state lawmaker wrote.

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In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroys both of the cities because of their wickedness, the substance of which has been debated for centuries. Many contemporary conservative Christians – including, probably, Prichard – have interpreted the story to mean that God destroyed the cities because all of their citizens were gay, an interpretation that many Christian and Jewish people disagree with. Other parts of the Bible that discuss Sodom and Gomorrah refer to their “adultery,” “pride” and lack of care for the “poor and needy,” and lack of charity.

The story is often used to shame LGBTQ+ people as it’s held up as proof that God hates LGBTQ+ people.

Prichard frequently attacks LGBTQ+ people on social media. He called for Republicans to be expelled from the party if they’re OK with parents taking their children to a drag show.

He proposed a law to ban schools from picking homecoming royalty of the same sex and then bizarrely claimed that he “didn’t start the fight” even though he was the one suggesting that he’d introduce a bill. The school in question has a non-gendered voting structure for homecoming royalty.

And he has written regularly about his opposition to gender-affirming care.