In a recently uncovered video from 2022, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is seen making controversial remarks about young women and access to birth control. During a speech at Hilltop Baptist Church in January 2022, Robinson mocked the idea of empowering young women and waved his hand near his groin while suggesting they need to “get this under control.” He also criticized programs that provide sexual education and birth control to young women, believing that they should instead focus on being responsible with their reproductive systems.
Robinson, a Republican who is now the GOP nominee for governor, has a history of making sexist, homophobic, and offensive comments, as well as promoting conspiracy theories. He has drawn comparisons to former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed his campaign. Robinson proposed the idea that young women should use their intelligence and empowerment to control their reproductive systems, implying that they should avoid engaging in activities that could lead to pregnancy until they are ready to have a baby.
The North Carolina Republican also dismissed the idea of educating young women about sex and birth control, suggesting that the solution is simply to avoid engaging in activities that could result in pregnancy until they are ready. While the video does not show the faces of the attendees at the church event, some can be heard agreeing with Robinson’s statements. Robinson’s campaign did not respond to inquiries about his stance on young women having access to birth control or why he thought it was appropriate to make such gestures and comments.
Robinson is currently running for governor against Democrat Josh Stein, the state’s attorney general. The current governor, Roy Cooper, is term-limited out in November. Stein is leading in all recent polls against Robinson according to the polling aggregation site FiveThirtyEight. It remains to be seen how Robinson’s controversial remarks and behavior will impact his campaign and the upcoming election in North Carolina, as he faces scrutiny for his views on women’s reproductive rights and access to birth control.
