Missouri State Rep. Zachary Wyatt came
out gay on Wednesday.
According to the
Kirksville
Daily Express, Wyatt, a Republican, announced during a press
conference that he's gay and is calling on Republican leaders to
withdraw a proposed bill which would prohibit the discussion of gay
issues in Missouri's public schools.
The measure, sponsored by Republican
Rep. Steve Cookson, cleared its first hurdle in the House earlier
this month. If approved, the bill would also effectively ban
Gay-Straight Alliance groups from meeting on school grounds as
approved extracurricular entities. This week, the Tennessee House
decided to drop a similar proposal.
“Today I ask you to stand with me as
a proud Republican, a proud veteran, and a proud gay man who wants to
protect all kids, addressing bullying in our schools,” Wyatt said.
“I will not lie to myself anymore
about my sexuality. It has probably been the hardest thing to come
to terms with. I have always ignored it. I didn't even think about
it or want to talk about it. I've been immune to it. I hear the
comments, usually snide ones, about me.”
“I am not the first or last
Republican to come out. I have just gotten tired of the bigotry
being shown on both sides of the aisle on gay issues. Being gay has
never been a Republican or Democrat issue, and it should never be,”
he added.
Cookson told the AP that he would not
withdraw his bill.
(Related: Stephen
Colbert skewers “Don't Say Gay” in school bill.)