AZ state representative calls nation "unrighteous" because of LGBTQ+ people and non-Christians.
A traditional opening prayer in the House turned into an evangelical speech condemning the community as "sinners" and "dark."
A state legislator on Monday used his time delivering a sermon that said a holiday to celebrate trans people was “dark,” proof of America being "unrighteous," and then denounced non-Christians.
The sermon was given as the House of Representatives opened its daily floor session, during which lawmakers convene to vote on bills passed through committees. Every day, the House and Senate open their floor sessions with a prayer that is meant to be non-denominational, but Republicans who control both chambers have long only used Christians to speak.
But Rep. Lupe Diaz (R.-Benson), who is also a minister, went a step further in his opening prayer Monday, and spent nearly five minutes on a fire-and-brimstone-styled sermon against non-Christians: "Eternal life is not available just to everybody, it is available just to those that acknowledge Jesus Christ," Diaz said on the House floor.
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