‘Is It a Sin To Be Gay?’ Eric Swalwell Grills Ben Shapiro In Wild Hearing Exchange About Sex and Abortion

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) questioned conservative commentator Ben Shapiro over gay marriage and abortion during Congressional testimony Wednesday.

Shapiro appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee to testify about media “collusion.” Swalwell grilled Shapiro over his past statements and the controversial right-wing policy agenda known as Project 2025.

The California lawmaker asked Shapiro about his stance towards the abortion pill, to which Shapiro responded he believes it is a “state by state issue.” Swalwell then repeatedly asked the Daily Wire founder if he believed if it is a sin to be gay and if he would support banning same-sex marriage.

Shapiro responded that he believes sexual orientation is not a sin but homosexual “activity” is sinful.

SWALWELL: How about banning the abortion pill? That’s part of Project 2025. Do you support that part?

SHAPIRO: I think that that’s a state by state issue on a personal level…I’m a fully pro-life person, which means that I’m not in favor of the distribution of the abortion pill.

SWALWELL: Banning same sex marriage. What about that part?

SHAPIRO: I am in favor of traditional marriage between a man and a woman. And I’m perfectly fine with anyone having any sort of voluntary sexual arrangement they seek. That’s a different thing from whether the government should attach benefits to that personal relationship.

SWALWELL: But you think it’s a sin to have same sex marriage?

SHAPIRO: I mean, I’m confused. Are you asking me, as a religious Jew, what I think about biblically?

SWALWELL: I’m just asking, is it a sin to be gay?

SHAPIRO: Is it a sin to be gay? I mean, how long do we have here? Two minutes. I mean, if the if the basic idea is that sexual orientation is up for government regulation, I’m not in favor of the government regulating the private, consenting sexual activity of adults. That is a different thing. Once again, the government ought to engage in actual benefits for particular sexual arrangements that adults make.

SWALWELL: But again, just you to me. Is it a sin or not?

SHAPIRO: From a religious Jewish perspective, orientation is not a sin, but activity is. That’s also this in perspective of most major religions, so far as I’m aware.