Missouri Republican announces he’s gay in response to ‘don’t say gay’ bill

[proud2BlibKansan]

JEFFERSON CITY | A Republican lawmaker from rural Missouri publicly announced this morning that he is gay and called for his party's leadership to denounce legislation aimed at limiting discussion of sexual orientation in public schools.

Rep. Zachary Wyatt, a Greencastle Republican, said he decided to disclose his sexual orientation for the first time publicly because of the debate over the so-called "don't say gay" bill. At a news conference at the state Capitol, Wyatt said this was his attempt to do something truly meaningful with his time as a state representative.

“I will not lie to myself anymore about my own sexuality,” he said.

Wyatt said he informed his family and close friends about his sexuality just last week.

Read more here: http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/missouri-republican-announces-hes-gay-response-dont-say-gay-bill/#storylink=cpy

[cali]

1. you're in the wrong party, pal.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Ya think?

LOL

[awoke_in_2003]

19. very true...

my sister's ex partner was a republican. I told her I couldn't understand how she could be a member of a party that wanted her dead.

[Justice wanted]

2. Really is anyone surprised by this. I want to laugh but the more I think about it this guy must

really hate himself. He belongs to a party that basically Blames him for the Ills of America.

[bluestateguy]

3. If he is from rural Missouri this could cost him his seat someday

I reckon its too late for a fundie challenger in the GOP primary, but I'm sure that those folks will challenge him the next chance they get.

[Taverner]

5. Someday? I could see them having a special election...

The hate is strong with them...

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I agree

I feel kinda sorry for him.

[LoisB]

13. I don't feel sorry for him at all. He chose to align himself with a political party that despises

him for something he did not chose; his sexual orientation. I would think that anytime one has to lie about who they are in order to "belong" to a political party, he/she is in the wrong party.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. He likely saw that as the only way he could get elected.

[loyalsister]

8. No need

He's not running again.

&feature=youtu.be

[gratuitous]

7. "I will not lie to myself anymore"

That's very commendable, Mr. Wyatt. You've embarked on a very interesting journey, bound to be chock full of self-discovery. One of the questions I hope you grapple with is why did you lie to yourself in the first place? Obviously it wasn't in your own self interest to deceive yourself. Did you lie to yourself because of expectations and pressures from other people around you?

Good luck, Mr. Wyatt. Keep close track of who supports you among your circle of most trusted friends and acquaintances.

[loyalsister]

9. One thing to remember...

He was in the military before DADT was repealed. Not to mention the fact that he's from rural MO. MO was one of the first states to pass the anti-gay marriage amendment in 2004.

[joeybee12]

10. Agree...look at the post about the pastor wanting to beat the gay out of kids...

You grow up in that kind onf environment, you believe staying in the closet means survival.

[loyalsister]

11. WOW that was disgusting!

One of my gay friends told me that there can be serious safety risks when it comes to coming out. I can definitely see how that could be a deterrent. It must be a terrible internal battle.

[Posteritatis]

12. You grow up in that kind of environment, sometimes it isn't just a belief, either. (nt)

[Rex]

14. Maybe he will come to his senses and leave the GOP post haste.

The GOP hates gay people unconditionally as part of their charter. You need to wake up and move to the left.

[qb]

15. Restrictions like this are a 1-way ticket to uncontrollable bullying & teen suicides.

These wingnut idiots should take a close look at the $270,000 Anoka-Hennepin settlement http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_20104833. Bigotry can be expensive.

[Swede Atlanta]

17. I would cut this guy a little slack UNLESS he has been hypocritical in the past...

While I may not agree with his general world view that brought him to the GOP, I am not going to fault someone for having those views. He may be uneducated, misinformed or "dumb as a box of rocks" as my Grandfather used to say.

But.....

(1) If he went to the GOP simply because in rural Missouri you have to be a puke to get elected but he doesn't really hold their core beliefs and is therefore a hypocrite OR

(2) He has supported or not stood against anti-LGBT issues in the past while at the same time bouncing with the bois

then he needs to understand that hypocrisy is never, ever tolerated.

[Dont call me Shirley]

18. More likely he announce his gayness because he got outed.

[Liberty Belle]

20. Oddly in San Diego there are 2 gay Republicans running for mayor, including a gay D.A.

and a gay Councilman. In this area it doesn't seem to be a stigma in the GOP to be gay anymore. Our current mayor is also a Republican who supports gay marriage and has a gay daughter.

I do think it seems hypocritical to be gay and Republican as the party is opposed to gay marriage and other gay rights issues.

But the prejudices by voters appear to be falling, even for Republicans. It's only a matter of time until we see this in more places.

[HiPointDem]

21. the guy comes out as a republican & all people do in this thread is piss on him. props to him, i

say.