Phil Robertson, the outspoken patriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" Robertson family, has shared his thoughts on the controversy surrounding North Carolina's transgender bathroom law.
"This is Phil Robertson from Duck Commander and I've got a radical idea," Robertson wrote in an email shared over the weekend, the Hollywood Reporter reveals.
"Men should use the men's bathroom and women should use the women's bathroom," he continued. "Just because a man may 'feel' like a woman doesn't mean he should be able to share a bathroom with my daughter, or yours. That used to be called common sense. Now it's called bigoted."
The email includes a link to StandTallWithPhil.org, which asks for donations to an effort called Speak Freely from Citizens United in conjunction with Robertson, the report notes.
House Bill 2, also known as the "bathroom law," states that in schools and government buildings, males and females need to use the bathrooms that coincide with the gender stated on their birth certificate,
On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina and Gov. Pat McCrory (R). At the time, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the bill is "state sponsored discrimination against transgender individuals."
"It was not so very long ago that states, including North Carolina, had other signs above restrooms, water fountains, and on public accommodations, keeping people out based on a distinction without a difference. We've moved beyond those dark days," Lynch said.
However, North Carolina, in turn, announced it is suing the US Department of Justice over its attempts to bar the state from upholding the bill, arguing that US Congress should "bring clarity" to current anti-discrimination laws.
"I do not agree with their interpretation of federal law. That is why this morning I have asked a federal court to clarify what the law actually is,'' McCrory said at a news conference on Monday. "This is not a North Carolina issue. It is now a national issue."
Some Hollywood heavy-hitters have slammed the bill: Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr, Boston, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, and more artists who have canceled North Carolina concerts until McCrory fully repeals HB2.
Director and actor Rob Reiner also recently slammed the bill by saying supporters of the legislation are full of "hate, bigotry and discrimination" and said that he will not film in the state unless and until the law is fully repealed, according to Variety. Disney and the Marvel franchise have issued similar warnings.
"The Judeo-Christian values that led America to greatness are under full assault by the mob mentality of political correctness, and we're slowly losing our soul," Robertson wrote.
