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Ponysaurus Brewing invites Lt. Gov. for a beer, launches fundraiser for LGBTQ in his name

A Durham brewery has launched a fundraiser for the LGBTQ community in response to comments made earlier this year by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

Posted Updated
Ponysaurus Brewing Company
By
Kathy Hanrahan
, WRAL lifestyle editor
DURHAM COUNTY, N.C. — A Durham brewery has launched a fundraiser for the LGBTQ community in response to comments made earlier this year by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
Ponysaurus Brewing Company has launched "The Lieutenant Governor Fund for the Fabulous," with a portion of profits from each pint of its "Don't Be Mean to People" beer being donated to the the LGBTQ community.
Robinson, a Republican who's likely to run for governor in three years, has come under fire for comments he's made at churches and conservative gatherings, such as calling homosexuality and transgenderism "filth" and "garbage."

"The Lt. Governor said some not very nice things. But Don’t Be Mean to People believes in the goodness of everyone. So we know in his heart he doesn't believe other North Carolinians are 'filth.' We’re so sure of it, we’re helping to fund the good work that could be his greatest act in public office," a message reads on the Ponysaurus website. "That’s right — a portion of profits from every pint of Don't Be Mean To People will go to help the LGBTQ community grow, thrive, and find acceptance. All in the name of his illustrious title."

While speaking at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove in June, Robinson called transgenderism and homosexuality "filth."

"There is no reason anybody, anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality or any of that filth," Robinson said to applause from the congregation. "And yes, I called it filth. And if you don't like it that I called it filth, come see me about it."

Robinson maintains his comments are targeted at LGBTQ-themed books that he wants out of school libraries and aren't against any individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. He has also made clear that he believes homosexuals are inferior to heterosexuals, saying they serve no purpose.

"Everything that God made serves a purpose," he said in an appearance in Winston-Salem in November. “Will somebody please explain to me the purpose of homosexuality? ... What does it create? It creates nothing."

Ponysaurus owners Nick Hawthorne-Johnson and David Baldwin posted a video on Instagram saying they would like to speak with Robinson about his comments.

"Stop by Ponysaurus anytime and let's talk about it over a beer," Hawthorne-Johnson says.

Ponysaurus Brewing Company teamed up with 40 other breweries in the area to create "Don’t Be Mean to People: A Golden Rule Saison" in 2016 in response to North Carolina's controversial House Bill 2, which required transgender people to use the restroom associated with their birth gender, excluded gay and transgender people from discrimination protections and bars cities and counties from extending protections to them.

A portion of each pint of "Don't Be Mean to People" benefits Equality NC and Queer Oriented Radical Days of Summer (QORDS), an organization that leads camping trips for queer and transgender youth.

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