Missouri GOP member: I'm gay, and I oppose 'don't say gay' bill
Yael T. AbouhalkahIn a pretty stunning personal statement Wednesday, Missouri House Republican Zachary Wyatt announced to the world that he’s gay.
He also took advantage of his opportunity to denounce the insipid “don’t say gay” bill promoted by fellow Republicans.
Here’s a good story from the Kirksville Daily Express about this interesting development.
Wyatt didn’t mince words in his criticism of the “don’t say gay” bill, promoted by Missouri Rep. Steve Cookson:
“Speaking in Hearing Room 5 at the State Capitol, Wyatt condemned what he called a “horrible bill” that would make illegal nearly all discussions on homosexuality in public schools, including conversations between students and school staff about their own sexuality.”
And early Wednesday afternoon, The Star’s Jason Hancock tweeted this information:
“National group Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund confirms @RepZachWyatt the only openly gay Republican serving in a state legislature in the U.S.”
Colleague Barb Shelly recently has had some good takedowns of the ‘don’t say gay’ bill.
Mark Hastert
1 year ago“Do you think a preteen should know all the intimate descriptions of any kind of sex? The public simply DOES NOT KNOW WHAT’S BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS…”
So I guess, Kay you know for a fact that the intimate details of homosexual sex are being taught to preteens? Please enlighten us.Who, what, where, when & how?
Kent Mueller
1 year agoI am one conservative who says…you go, Zachary Wyatt. I’m with you all the way.
Kay, I think if we wait to provide information when the question is asked, we will be waiting forever. Children simply don’t ask all the questions to which they need answers.
Our two sons went through a “parent attended”, coed sex education class. I believe they each were in the fourth grade at the time. It covered all the bases and was done very well. I’m not sure any of them had thought about sex. But, they had the answers to all the questions before they even had to worry about the questions. It was a non-event that served them very well.
George Hunsucker
Northland
1 year agoKent, I would wager your children were in a private school. AND, this was apparently your CHOICE. This would be fine IF the offerings were like this, parent attended and choice. They are not, so it is not OK for some bureaucrat to be teaching our children sex without us being there and controlling the content.
Kent Mueller
1 year agoGeorge, it’s true. My children are in a private school. The class was offered off campus and was voluntary. I understand your concern regarding lack of transparency when it is a public school. I feel very fortunate that we had the opportunities that had for this.
Erin Fitzgerald
1 year agoThis bill isn’t about sexuality, it’s about bullying. This week there was another gay kid who committed suicide because he was bullied. Which is worse? A kid who is educated about sex or a dead kid? I can only guess this answer from conservatives.
George Hunsucker
Northland
1 year agoYou libs are so funny Erin, NOT…..
I have no problems talking about bullying. I do have problems with your beloved govt. doing sex education WITHOUT parental involvement or say so. I especially have a problem teaching being gay, your euphemism, is just another “life style”.
Do you libs have a problem with a person choosing a gay life style because you taught she/he it was perfectly normal??
Mark Robertson
1 year agoGood points George. Just what is a “gay kid?” Lot of brainwashing going on. Not surprising in government schools. Can’t teach right and wrong in government schools because right and wrong has to be based on a higher power. Young people need to be clearly taught right and wrong or they end up being confused and otherwise mixed up.(see “gay kid”) Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence