Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the next Secretary of Education, is not only totally unqualified and even hostile to public education, she’s also a big advocate of what is known as gay “conversion therapy.” This sham “therapy” can involve everything from prayer to electric shock as a way to make people straight.
At her confirmation hearing Tuesday, Minnesota Senator Al Franken confronted DeVos about her support of gay conversion therapy, telling her:
“Mrs. DeVos, your family has a long history of supporting anti-LGBT causes including donating millions of dollars to groups that push conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. For example, you and your family have given over $10 million to Focus On the Family, an organization that currently states on its website that, ‘homosexual strugglers can and do change their sexual behavior and identity.'”
Then Senator Franken hit DeVos with every Republican’s worst fear: Facts. He looked her in the eye and said:
“Mrs. DeVos, conversion therapy has been widely discredited and rejected for decades by every mainstream medical and mental health organization as neither medically nor ethically appropriate. It has been shown to lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide, particularly in LGBT youth. In fact, many of the leaders and founders of conversion therapy, including both religious ministries and mental health professionals, have not only publicly renounced it but have issued formal apologies for their work and how harmful it has been to the individuals involved. Mr. Chairman, I would ask that this be included in the record.”
“Mrs. DeVos, do you still believe in conversion therapy?”
Rather than actually respond in an open and honest fashion, DeVos did what the man who nominated her, Donald Trump, is so fond of: She lied her ass off, telling Franken:
“Senator Franken, I’ve never believed in that. First of all, let me say I fully embrace equality and I believe in the innate value of every single human being and that all students, no matter their age, should be able to attend a school and feel safe and be free of discrimination. So let’s start there and let me just say that your characterization of our contributions I don’t think accurately reflects those of my family. I would hope you wouldn’t include other family members beyond my core family.”
Bullshit! Betsy DeVos has long supported gay conversion therapy and been hostile to the LGBT community in this country. She is a pathetic choice to serve as Secretary of Education and would destroy the American educational system.
Watch DeVos lie when confronted by Senator Franken:
Featured Image Via C-SPAN Screengrab
