Dan Savage Points Out Hypocrisy Of Duggar Family Values

Dan Savage Points Out Hypocrisy Of Duggar Family Values
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LGBT advocate Dan Savage noted the hypocrisy inherent in the Duggar family's anti-trans agenda in light of Josh Duggar's apparent admission that he molested five underage girls when he was a teenager.

"Particularly when religious conservatives want to talk about it, they want to point a finger at non-family. They want to point a finger at people that they define as the enemies of families or not from or having families of their own -- LGBT people, particularly trans people increasingly with these anti-trans bathroom bills,” Savage said on Friday night's episode of "All In with Chris Hayes."

“That is what the Duggars have dug in on,” Savage continued, “is attacking trans people and opposing this LGBT civil rights bill in Fayetteville, where they were out there arguing that the threat to little girls in Fayetteville were transwomen when they knew, when they were covering for someone who had demonstrated, at least at that age, was a threat to little girls himself.”

In August 2014, the family's matriarch, Michelle Duggar, campaigned against an anti-discrimination bill in her home state of Arkansas.

Hello, this is Michelle Duggar. I’m calling to inform you of some shocking news that would affect the safety of northwest Arkansas women and children. The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men -- yes, I said men -- to use women's and girls' restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only. I don’t believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls. I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space. We should never place the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child. Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool’s private changing area?

After the sexual abuse allegations surfaced this week, Josh Duggar resigned from his position as executive director of the conservative and anti-LGBT group Family Research Council Action, the Washington Post reported.

TLC pulled the Duggars' "19 Kids and Counting" show in the wake of the controversy.

The network did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post.

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Before You Go

Photos Of The Duggar Family
FOX News' Megyn Kelly Interviews Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar(01 of36)
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TONTITOWN, ARKANSAS - JUNE 03: In this handout image provided by FOX News Channel, FOX News ChannelÂs Megyn Kelly sits down with the Duggar children of the TLC program '19 Kids and Counting' at their home in Tontitown, Arkansas. The interview will air tonight during FOX News ChannelÂs 'The Kelly File' at 9PM/ET. (Photo by FOX News Channel via Getty Images) (credit:Handout via Getty Images)
FOX News' Megyn Kelly Interviews Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar(02 of36)
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TONTITOWN, ARKANSAS - JUNE 03: In this handout image provided by FOX News Channel, Jim Bob Duggar, of the TLC show '19 Kids and Counting', speaks with FOX News ChannelÂs Megyn Kelly at their home in Tontitown, Arkansas. The interview will air tonight during FOX News ChannelÂs 'The Kelly File' at 9PM/ET. (Photo by FOX News Channel via Getty Images) (credit:Handout via Getty Images)
Robert Wagner And The Duggar Family Visit "Extra"(03 of36)
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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: (L-R) Jessa Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Jill Duggar, and Jana Duggar visit 'Extra' at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on March 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra) (credit:D Dipasupil via Getty Images)
Robert Wagner And The Duggar Family Visit "Extra"(04 of36)
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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: The Duggar family visits 'Extra' at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on March 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra) (credit:D Dipasupil via Getty Images)
Robert Wagner And The Duggar Family Visit "Extra"(05 of36)
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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: The Duggar family visits 'Extra' at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on March 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra) (credit:D Dipasupil via Getty Images)
Robert Wagner And The Duggar Family Visit "Extra"(06 of36)
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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: The Duggar family visits 'Extra' at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on March 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra) (credit:D Dipasupil via Getty Images)
ABC's "Good Morning America" - 2014(07 of36)
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GOOD MORNING AMERICA - One of America''s largest families, the Duggars, talk about their new book on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, 3/11/14, airing on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images) LARA SPENCER, DUGGAR FAMILY (credit:Ida Mae Astute via Getty Images)
Jill And Derick Dillard Visit "Extra"(08 of36)
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 23: (L-R) AJ Calloway interviews Jill Duggar Dillard and husband Derick Dillard during their visit to 'Extra' at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on October 23, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra) (credit:D Dipasupil via Getty Images)
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson and The Duggars Speak At CPAC(09 of36)
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NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - FEBRUARY 28: Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar pose during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on February 28, 2015 in National Harbor, Maryland. Conservative activists attended the annual political conference to discuss their agenda. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (credit:Kris Connor via Getty Images)
Michelle Duggar(10 of36)
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FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2008 file picture, Michelle Duggar is shown in Rogers, Ark. Duggar who stars on the TLC reality show "19 Kids and Counting" has suffered a miscarriage after announcing she was expecting her 20th child. (AP Photo/Beth Hall, File) (credit:AP)
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FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2007 file photo, Michelle Duggar, left, is surrounded by her children and husband Jim Bob, second from left, after the birth of her 17th child in Rogers, Ark. Arkansas couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 that they are expecting their 20th child in April. (AP Photo/ Beth Hall, File) (credit:AP)
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" Book Signing(12 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' pose for a picture with a fan while signing copies of their book at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" Book Signing(13 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' pose for a picture with a fan while signing copies of their book at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" Book Signing(14 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' pose for a picture with a fan while signing copies of their book at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
5th Annual Values Voter Summit(15 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Jim Bob Duggar (L) and Michelle Duggar of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting' speak at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" Book Signing(16 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' pose for a picture with a fan while signing copies of their book at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" Book Signing(17 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' pose for a picture with a fan while signing copies of their book at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" Book Signing(18 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of The Learning Channel TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' pose for a picture with a fan while signing copies of their book at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. The annual summit drew nearly two thousand people to advocate for conservative causes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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In this Jan. 18, 2010 publicity image released by TLC on Thursday, Jan. 28, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar hold their daughter Josie Brooklyn Duggar, born Dec. 11, at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. Josie, the Duggar's 19th child, will be introduced in a special "19 Kids and Counting: Special Duggar Delivery," airing Sunday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. EST on TLC. (AP Photo/TLC, Scott Enlow) (credit:AP)
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Michelle Duggar Signs Copies Of "A Love That Multiplies"(30 of36)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar promote their book 'A Love That Multiplies' during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Marriott Wardman Park on February 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Michelle Duggar Signs Copies Of "A Love That Multiplies"(31 of36)
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar promote their book 'A Love That Multiplies' during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Marriott Wardman Park on February 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Today(32 of36)
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TODAY -- Pictured: (l-r) Michelle Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar and Ann Curry appear on NBC News' 'Today show (Photo by Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
5th Annual Values Voter Summit(33 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar pose for a photographer during a book signing during the 5th Annual Values Voter Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/WireImage) (credit:Getty Images)
5th Annual Values Voter Summit(34 of36)
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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar speak during the 5th Annual Values Voter Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/WireImage) (credit:Getty Images)
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TODAY -- Pictured: (l-r) James Duggar and Michelle Duggar appear on NBC News' 'Today' show (Photo by Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Today(36 of36)
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TODAY -- Pictured: (l-r) James Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer appear on NBC News' 'Today' show (Photo by Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)