Gordon “Dr. Chaps” Klingenschmitt,
an ardent opponent of gay rights, on Tuesday was elected to the
Colorado House of Representatives.
Klingenschmitt won nearly 70 percent of
the vote over his Democratic rival, Louis A. Fornander. The result
was not surprising given that Republicans outnumber Democrats by a
2-to-1 margin in the El Paso County district Klingenschmitt will
represent.
The former Navy chaplain first made
national headlines when he challenged the military's rule on
inclusive prayers during events which include a multi-faith audience
such as ship commissionings and change-of-command ceremonies. A
born-again Christian, Klingenschmitt demanded the right to pray “in
the name of Jesus” in public settings. He received an honorable
discharge for insubordination.
Klingenschmitt routinely attacks gay
rights on his YouTube show Pray
in Jesus Name Project, which
he launched in 2011.
During
his campaign, Klingenschmitt refused to meet with gay rights
activists, saying that he worried about being pied
in the face.
He also accused
openly gay Colorado Rep. Jared Polis of attacking Christians who
oppose homosexuality after Polis trimmed down religious exemptions in
the House's version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
“Democrats like
Polis want to bankrupt Christians who refuse to worship and endorse
his sodomy. Next he'll join ISIS in beheading Christians, but not
just in Syria, right here in America,” Klingenschmitt said.
When
criticized by Democrats, he offered an
apology of sorts, saying that he had “used hyperbole.”
In February,
Klingenschmitt alleged that gay soldiers undermine the military
because they must take breaks to change their diapers “all because
their treacherous sin causes them to lose control of their bowels.”
He's also attacked
marriage equality – which was recently legalized in Colorado –
saying that it leads to “child abuse.”
“What is the most
cruel thing you can do to a child?” Klingenschmitt rhetorically
asked. “After physical or sexual abuse, the most cruel thing you
can do to a child is take away their mother. That's how homosexual
'marriage' causes child abuse, by taking away the child's mother (or
father) and telling the child 'your need for a mother is less than
our right for homosexual pleasure.' Gay 'marriage' is inherently
selfish and abusive to kids.”