Rep. Trent Franks, Who Said Gay Marriage Will Destroy America, to Quit

The stridently homophobic, racist, and misogynist Arizona GOP congressman is resigning, with rumors swirling of inappropriate behavior on his part.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

December 07 2017 12:45 PM EST

December 07 2017 12:52 PM EST

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Trent Franks, one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives, is resigning today, according to Politico, which was briefed on the matter by a Republican operative. It's not yet clear why Franks is leaving Congress, but rumors of inappropriate behavior on his part are swirling in Washington.

Representing a solidly Republican swath of Arizona, northwest of Phoenix, Franks built a reputation as a hard-line conservative since joining Congress in 2003. Franks often antagonized President Obama, calling him an "enemy of humanity" and accusing him of using tax dollars for "the killing of unborn children." His obsession with controlling women's bodies has gotten him into hot water.

"Half of all black children are aborted," Franks infamously said in 2010. "Far more of the African-American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by the policies of slavery." Three years later, Franks pushed bills that would limit access to abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, saying "the incidents of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low."

Not surprisingly, Franks opposed rights for LGBT people. Franks said in a 2011 interview that "[gay marriage] literally is a threat to the nation's survival."

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