Michigan State Representative Tom
McMillin is coming under fire for saying he believes that being gay
is a choice.
McMillin, a Republican who represents
the people of the 45th District, made his comments during
a town hall meeting held in September.
At the meeting, a Rochester Hills
resident asked McMillin about a 2003 Detroit News story in
which McMillin spoke in favor of gay marriage bans.
“I think that the people who are
caught up in the homosexual lifestyle need help,” he said in 2003.
“We encourage people to stop smoking. This resolution is the same
sort of thing.”
Tim Maurer asked McMillin if he
believes gay people can quit their sexuality like smokers can cut out
their habit.
“Well, I think that the thousands of
people that have been in that lifestyle and come out would say that
it was their choice when they were in and came out of the lifestyle,”
McMillin answered.
Local political activist Bruce Fealk
caught McMillin's comments on videotape.
“I just think it's outrageous,”
Fealk told The
Oakland Press, “I can't believe in this day in age, we have
a man this radical.” (A video report is embedded on this page.
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