Virginia Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears campaigned with pastor who called homosexuality the 'work of the devil' in 2021 - and 'only apologized to trans colleague for calling her "sir" after Dems threatened boycott'

Virginia's Lieutenant Governor in the midst of a transgender row once campaigned with a pastor who branded homosexuality the 'work of the devil', it has emerged. 

Winsome Earle-Sears, 59, has come under scrutiny after referring to a trans woman senator as 'sir' in a heated moment on Monday, and allegedly only apologized after Democrat colleagues refused to re-enter the chamber until she did so.

Despite eventually apologizing and claiming she treats 'everyone with respect and dignity', her past association with Bishop E.W. Jackson has raised eyebrows. 

The religious speaker has sparked outrage with a number of inflammatory remarks in the past, including branding homosexuality the 'work of the devil' in 2021.

In the middle of the 2020 presidential election campaign, he was also condemned for claiming then-candidate Pete Buttigieg, a gay man, would be 'disgusted by the idea of two men kissing each other on the mouth' if he were a 'normal man.'

Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (left) has come under renewed scrutiny for her past relationship with controversial Bishop E.W. Jackson (right) 

Earle-Sears has faced scrutiny for referring to Virginia State Senator as 'sir' and allegedly refusing to apologize until her colleagues demanded she did so 

In March 2021 as she was campaigning for the Lieutenant Governor's office, Earle-Sears proudly stood next to Bishop Jackson as he endorsed her because of her 'convictions.' 

He praised how she would return Virginia to 'the principles' of the founding fathers - as Earle-Sears said she was 'excited' to receive his endorsement. 

But that same year in October, Jackson - who was once the losing GOP nominee for Virginia Lieutenant Governor in 2013 - sparked backlash with incendiary remarks at a conservative conference.

He told the audience that they had a responsibility to 'destroy the works of the devil', which he felt included 'transgenderism', homosexuality and socialism. 

'Marxism is a work of the devil! Socialism is a work of the devil! Transgenderism is a work of the devil! Homosexuality is a work of the devil! Abortion is the work of the devil! And we say, “Satan, we’re going to tear your kingdom down!”' he said. 

While that speech came after he endorsed Earle-Sears, it was not the first time he took aim at gays and transgender people.

In his comments about Buttigieg, who is gay, he argued that the now-Transport Secretary would have imposed laws on free speech and enforced a 'homocracy.' 

'I am sure we would have laws saying that you have to refer to transgender people as 'they' and 'them,' can't refer to them as 'he' or 'she,'' he said on his podcast in April 2019. 

'I know that as much as these LGBT activists say that I want a theocracy, which I don't because I don't want to punish them or put them in jail for what they are doing, I want to see them converted,' he said.

'But I guarantee they would love to see you or me punished or put in jail. You know what, we don't want a theocracy, but I guarantee you, they want a homocracy.' 

Earle-Sears' connection to Jackson has raised eyebrows in the wake of her scandal with Roem. The Lt. Gov's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the relationship when contacted by DailyMail.com. 

State Senator Danica Roem (right) pictured with Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left) 

Earle-Sears seen moments after referring to Roem as 'sir', which caused the legislature to go into recess twice 

Roem stormed out of the room after the remark was made, and her Democratic colleagues reportedly refused to re-enter the chamber until Earle-Sears apologized 

It comes as footage of Earle-Sears' row with Roem sparked backlash online, as the transgender state senator stormed out of the room after being referred to a 'sir.'

Roem, 39, was seen marching out of the chamber moments after being misgendered - before the remark caused the legislature to go into recess twice. 

In the footage, Senator Roem can be heard asking: 'Madame President how many votes would it take to pass this bill with the emergency clause.'

The Lieutenant Governor replies, 'Yes sir, that would be 32', causing Senator Roem to leave the chamber.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Earle-Sears initially refused to apologize for the comment, but later made an apology to the chamber.

She said: 'I am not here to upset anyone, I am here to do the job that the people of Virginia have called me to do.

'That is to treat everyone with respect and dignity. I myself have at times not been afforded that same respect and dignity.

'In this body, as long as I am president of the senate, and by the grace of God, I will be treated with respect and dignity. And I will treat everyone else with respect and dignity.

'We are all equal under the law. I apologize, and I would hope everyone would understand there's no intent to offend.'

Roem (picturd) was the first transgender member of the House of Delegates when she was first elected in 2017, unseating a 13-term incumbent and socially conservative lawmaker who proudly called himself Virginia's 'chief homophobe'

Roem was the first transgender member of the House of Delegates when she was first elected in 2017.

She unseated Republican Bob Marshall, a 13-term incumbent and socially conservative lawmaker who proudly called himself Virginia's 'chief homophobe'.

In an interview during the campaign, Marshall called Roem 'a guy who thinks he’s a girl who wears a dress' before claiming that most people do not realize she is transgender, and see her instead as 'an odd-looking woman.'

During her campaign, Roem hit back at comments from Marshall who also repeatedly referred to her as a he, and refused to debate her.

Roem said at the time: 'This is just who I am. There are millions of transgender people in this country, and we all deserve representation in government.'

Last year she went on to become the first transgender senator elected to Virginia's upper chamber and only the second elected to any state Senate.

Sears, a US Marines veteran, was elected Lt. Governor in 2021, alongside the state's popular GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Both are seen as rising stars - and potential candidates for a White House run.