August 23, 2018
Source/Wagner for Governor/Facebook
Republican Scott Wagner is challenging incumbent Tom Wolf for Pennsylvania governor.
During a town hall meeting last Thursday in Zelienople, Pa., Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor Scott Wagner expressed his views on what bathrooms transgender people should use.
"It’s real simple," Wagner said at the meeting. “If you’re born with male plumbing, you use the men’s room. If you’re born with female plumbing, you use the ladies’ room. Period.”
Wagner's campaign provided this statement to PhillyVoice with regards to his comments on bathroom use:
"Scott has a record of standing up for the LGBTQ community. What Scott has said repeatedly is that you should use the bathroom consistent with your gender. If someone transitions and goes through the appropriate steps consistent with the executive orders that have been put into place by GOP and Democratic governors regarding changing the gender on your drivers license, then Scott believes they should use the bathroom that matches their identity. What Scott doesn’t support is a declaration outside of the set policy that would allow people to circumvent privacy and protections."
You can watch the full town hall video here, on Wagner’s campaign Facebook page:
The Gay Star News was first to notice the comments, which can be seen and heard here excerpted by Twitter user Sean Kitchen:
"It's real simple. If you're born w/ male plumbing, you use the mens room. If you're born w/ female plumbing, you use the ladies room. Period."
— Sean Kitchen 🌹 (@RCPress_Sean) August 22, 2018
Scott Wagner asked about being pro-life & the bathroom issue @ the Erie townhall. He also proclaimed he's 100% pro-life.#PAGov pic.twitter.com/RMXh9Pe9hr
And here are Wagner’s comments in full:
“Let me, if I could — and I’ll be very brief, but let me talk about the bathroom issue.
“I was asked, two years ago, if I would consider sponsoring an anti-discrimination bill. I went to see the senator that introduced the bill, and I asked him why was he introducing the bill. Give me some background. He said, ‘I have a friend who’s gay, or a relative who’s gay, and he’s concerned he could be fired from his job without any recourse or protection.
“I took that bill and I took it to my law firm in Pennsylvania. I asked my employment law attorney, paid at my own expense. I asked for an opinion: Is this true, that if I have someone who’s gay and who works at my company, could I fire them if I find out they’re gay? The answer is yes. I do not discriminate in my companies, and I do not believe anyone in this room believes in discrimination.
“During the primary, it was twisted that I was a supporter of third bathrooms. It’s a very tricky situation, but to get it off the table: I would not sign a bathroom bill if it came to my desk, nor would I promote a bathroom bill. It’s real simple: If you’re born with male plumbing, you use the men’s room. If you’re born with female plumbing, you use the ladies’ room. Period.”
This town hall meeting occurred four days before a town hall meeting in Erie, Pa., when Wagner stumbled over a question about LGBTQ marriage.
At that meeting, Wagner appeared to say that he would consider a bill to make gay marriage illegal in Pennsylvania. A spokesman clarified the next day that Wagner would “veto any bill that would restrict marriage rights for same-sex couples.”
The midterm elections will be held Nov. 6.
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