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From Staff Reports
Protesters were predicted to appear when the Buncombe County GOP hosts its “An Autumn Evening†$100-a-plate dinner with speeches by two of the most controversial GOP officials in North Carolina — U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Expo Center at Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1 Resort Drive, West Asheville.
Robinson is facing calls to resign by multiple state lawmakers over anti-LBGTQ+ comments he made — including calling LBGT+ people “filth†— at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove during a visit in June that were captured on video and released, NBC local affiliate WRAL reported.
“I’m saying this now, and I’ve been saying it, and I don’t care who likes it: Those issues have no place in a school. There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality — any of that filth,†Robinson said.
“And yes, I called it filth. And if you don’t like it that I called it filth, come see me and I’ll explain it to you. It’s time for us to stop letting these children be abused in schools, and it’s not going to happen till the people of God stand up and demand different, same ones that established those schools to begin with.â€
In a statement emailed to NBC News on Oct. 8, Jordan Monaghan, Gov. Roy Cooper’s press secretary, called Robinson’s comments “abhorrent,†while the governor’s statement added: “North Carolina is a welcoming state where we value public education and the diversity of our people. It’s abhorrent to hear anyone, and especially an elected official, use hateful rhetoric that hurts people and our state’s reputation.â€
Robinson, a Republican and a conservative who was elected last November, is the first African-American to serve as North Carolina’s lieutenant governor.
Robinson’s website notes the following about him:
“Mark Robinson is a true American Patriot. Born and raised in Greensboro, he grew up in an impoverished house as the ninth of 10 children. Experiencing alcoholism and witnessing domestic abuse first hand, Mark was able not only to survive, but thrive.
“Mark served in the Army Reserves as a medical specialist, has worked in manufacturing, and owned a small business. He not only knows the people of North Carolina, he is North Carolina.â€
In his campaign, he vowed to work for the following issues:
• “Fight for the life of the unborn.
• “End indoctrination in schools.
• “Defend the 2nd Amendment.
• “Make North Carolina the gold standard for Veterans Care.
• “Stand up for our Law Enforcement.â€
Elsewhere, an Oct. 10 story by www.theguardian.com stated that “the Republican lieutenant governor of North Carolina has said he will not resign or back down over remarks in which he called transgenderism and homosexuality ‘filth,’†theguardian.com reported, adding the following:
“Condemnation extended to the Biden White House.
“Andrew Bates, a deputy press secretary from North Carolina, said: ‘These words are repugnant and offensive. The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone; not to spread hate and undermine their own office.’
“Jeff Jackson, a Democratic North Carolina state senator and candidate for U.S. Senate, joined calls for Robinson to quit.
“‘Calling many of your own constituents “filth†means you have no intention of representing them,’ he said on Twitter. ‘Our Lt Governor should resign and allow someone who is prepared to do the job to take his place. This wasn’t a dog whistle, folks. This was old school hate.’
“But in remarks posted to Facebook on Saturday (Oct. 9), Robinson remained defiant.
“‘Let me tell you plainly right here and right now: I will not back down,†he said.
“‘I will not be silenced and I will not be bullied into submission. I will continue to fight for the rights of our children to receive an education that is free from sexual concepts that do not belong in the classroom.â€
He also said he would “fight for and protect the rights of all citizens, including those in the LGBTQ[+] community to express themselves however they want. That is their right as Americans and I don’t think that the government has any role in telling them otherwise.â€
But he insisted “the idea that our children should be taught about concepts of transgenderism and be exposed to sexually explicit materials in the classroom is abhorrent,†theguardian.com reported.
The BCGOP noted the program also will feature Dr. Paul Brintley (author, speaker, pastor) and Master of Ceremonies Hal Weatherman. Besides $100-a-plate dinner-only tickets, also available are $250 VIP reception with photo and dinner tickets and $400 VIP reception with photo and a spot at Robinson’s or Cawthorn’s tables. For regular $100 tickets, call the BCGOP at 253-5800. For either VIP-option tickets, call Betty Hudson at 253-5800, or email her at
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