The Republican lieutenant governor of North Carolina has said he will not resign or back down over remarks in which he called transgenderism and homosexuality “filth”. Mark Robinson, the first African American to hold the post, made the remarks in question at Asbury Baptist church in Seagrove, North Carolina, in June. “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth,” he said, in video posted to social media. “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.” Condemnation extended to the Biden White House. Andrew Bates, a deputy press secretary from North Carolina, said: “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.” Jeff Jackson, a Democratic North Carolina state senator and candidate for US Senate, joined calls for Robinson to quit. “Calling many of your own constituents ‘filth’ means you have no intention of representing them,” he said on Twitter. “Our Lt Governor should resign and allow someone who is prepared to do the job to take his place. This wasn’t a dog whistle, folks. This was old school hate.”