During a Missouri House discussion on a bill that would make it dramatically more difficult for individuals to sue their former employers for discriminatory wrongful termination, Representative Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville) explained he sees a distinction between “homosexuality” and “being a human being.”

The deplorable comment came as a response to an amendment introduced by Rep. Kevin Engler, a Republican, to make it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity—something not currently on the state books.

Fusion reports:



But, for Engler’s fellow Republican Rick Brattin, discriminating against the LGBTQ community isn’t just a legal matter—it’s a universally held religious truism. Because, Brattin explained, “When you look at the tenets of religion, of the Bible, of the Qu’ran, of other religions, there is a distinction between homosexuality and just being a human being.” Got that? There’s gay people, and then there’s “just being a human being.”

The Kansas City Star adds:



We asked Rep. Brattin to explain his statement, but he did not return a phone call to his office. It isn’t the first time state Brattin has tripped over the Constitution. He has sought an equal footing for teaching creationism in public schools. He proposed requiring the father’s consent before an abortion except in cases of “legitimate rape.” He suggested college football players who refuse to play for political reasons should lose their scholarships.





