JEFFRSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Republican state lawmaker, Zachary Wyatt on Wednesday publicly came out to his colleagues during a press conference asking for the withdrawal of Missouri’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill.”
Zachary Wyatt
The announcement was made while Wyatt offered an amendment containing enumerated categories to an anti-bullying bill up for debate.
Wyatt, who represents Missouri’s 2nd District in the state House, said that he had heard anti-gay snickering, jokes and bigotry at the Capitol, which prompted his own personal story on bullying and to come out.
“We are incredibly proud of Representative Wyatt’s courage today,” says A.J. Bockelman, Executive Director of PROMO.
“We hope this announcement should serve as a positive example not only for the LGBT community, but also for Representative Wyatt’s colleagues. We truly hope the announcement will be met with support from his colleagues and friends from both sides of the aisle and respect his decision to be true to his identity and self,” Bockelman said.
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Wyatt’s announcement comes at a time when all eyes are already on state lawmakers from the LGBT community due to widespread attention surrounding Missouri’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, and the decision by the House to make a Concealed Carry Permit holder a protected class for employment.
If passed, the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” would ban public school-sponsored instruction, material, or extracurricular activities that discuss sexual orientation except when concerning human reproduction.
Wyatt’s tenure as the country’s only openly gay GOP state lawmaker is short-lived, however; he is leaving his “political life behind” when the legislative session ends to study marine biology at the University of Hawaii.
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Well good for him!!!
WIN
GOOD! CAUSE THIS LAW IS RA-TAR-DED! As that one chick said on Awkward all the time. “You’re Welcome!”
Yay for him & for us gay folk to have him as an advocate! :)
I’m so happy for him we are the SHOW ME state for a reason I’m so thankful someone good is speaking for our state, good so far anyway:)
It’s a pity he still considers his party to be the GOP, so still a hypocrite.
A gay republican. Sick.
It does make sense. Republicans say what they really feel when they have nothing to lose. If he was going to stay around I wonder if he would have done it.
I’ll never understand how you can be gay and a Republican…
I’m proud of you, Zachary! Do it for all of us!
To everyone surprised that there are gay republicans, not every gay person is a flag-waving, make-up wearing flamer, and the same with politics. Look up the Log Cabin Republicans, and educate yourself.
Travis, go have a seat in the corner. You totally missed the point. Smh
Travis, the so-called Log Cabin Republicans are no more than a group of overly rich gays who feel that true equality costs too much, and is unnessesary as they can BUY thier own equality. Complete and TOTAL DANGEROUS hypocritical “GAYS”( I’d use the F word here, but I’m sure someone would be pissy)
Plus I should point out that you, Travis, with your usage of standard stereotypes and name-calling, do more harm for the community than any amount of bigotry can do.
he can go back in.we dont need his kind out.LCR =BIG JOKE.
I’m no Republican, but good for him! Gay people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, temperaments, religions, and political outlooks. I hope he will use his influence to advocate for his LGBT Missourians.
^_^ <3
Another one!! YAY!!!!!!!
damn, he’s cute too! :)
You know the Don’t Say Gay bill is bad news when a GOP lawmaker comes out as LGBT because he feels the same need we do for the bill to be shut down.