North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson isn’t backing down after being harshly criticized by the political left for remarks he made calling the teaching of homosexuality and transgenderism “filth” that shouldn’t be promoted in America’s public schools.

A video of Robinson, a first-term Republican, speaking at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove, North Carolina, on June 6, gained wide attention on social media last week. Since then, some North Carolina Democrats and LGBTQ activists have called for his resignation. He also drew condemnation from a White House official with North Carolina ties as well as the state’s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, who called his remarks “abhorrent.”

Robinson doubled down on Oct. 9 in a video response. “I will fight for and protect the rights of all citizens, including those in the LGBTQ community to express themselves however they want. However, the idea that our children should be taught about concepts of transgenderism and be exposed to sexually explicit materials in the classroom is abhorrent.”

In remarks to the church in June, Robinson discussed his Christian faith, the tragedy of abortion and the use of public schools to promote sexual and racial identity politics. He complained that Christians have largely relinquished the education system to secular ideologues pushing agendas that aren’t in children’s best interests.

“It’s not about education anymore, folks. … It’s about a word we call indoctrination,” Robinson said. “That’s what’s going on in our schools. People don’t like to hear it; they don’t want to hear it, but that’s what’s going on.

“I’ve been saying it, and I don’t care who likes it. Those issues have no place in the school. There’s no reason anybody, anywhere in America, should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth. And yes, I called it filth. And if you don’t like that I called it filth, come see me and I’ll explain it to you.”

Robinson further noted, “Those are adult topics that should stay in an adult place. They have no business around children.”

President Biden’s deputy press secretary, North Carolina native Andrew Bates, told the Charlotte Observer in a statement: “These words are repugnant and offensive. The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone; not to spread hate and undermine their own office.”

Meanwhile, Franklin Graham offered encouragement to Robinson for his bold convictions.

“The Lt. Governor said the threats and outcry [over his comments] are part of a strategy of intimidation to try to get people to not speak out about their own beliefs on these topics, and he is right,” Franklin said on Facebook. “Thank you, Mark Robinson, for having the guts to stand up and tell the truth. God bless you!”

Robinson has said he would not back down from his comments, telling NBC television affiliate WRAL in Raleigh-Durham that public schools should worry first about helping students read at grade-level proficiency, since about 40% of the state budget is spent on education.

Photo: Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer/TNS/Newscom