Florida budget chair shuts down man after he links LGBTQ people to pedophilia

Rep Travis Cummings of the Florida House of Representatives was applauded by fellow lawmakers and members of the public after shutting down the public testimony of a man who linked LGBTQ persons to pedophiles during a session on February 25.

Greg Pound was the last to give public testimony at the Florida House Appropriations Committee session in Tallahassee on Tuesday and titled his statement “saving families,” but was cut off shortly after he started speaking.

“Just a real quick question on the alphabet there,” Pound said. “The L is for lesbians, the G is for gay, B is for Bisexual, T is for Transgender, Q is queer, and then P would be pedophile. Now let me ask you this, Where do these people get their children?”

Rep Cummings, the chair of the committee and a Republican, cut off Pound, saying, “Your testimony is ended.” When Pound asked him why, Cummings said, “On what grounds? What’s come right out of your mouth. It’s offensive.”

Rep Cummings’s response drew applause from others in the room and praise from fellow lawmakers online.

This is not the first time Greg Pound has attempted to give such testimony in the state’s capitol. Pound is known for talking about the Bible and bringing up conspiracy theories, including those featuring anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim sentiment, during public testimony opportunities in the Florida legislature, according to reports.