JEFFERSON CITY A Republican lawmaker on Wednesday announced he is gay and called on his colleagues to drop a bill that would restrict discussions about sexual orientation in public schools. <\/p>\n
The so-called \"don't say gay\" bill appears unlikely to pass this legislative session, but Rep. Zach Wyatt of Green Castle in northeastern Missouri said he wants supporters to withdraw the bill. <\/p>\n
\"I just couldn't be silent anymore,\" Wyatt said. \"I really hope they step back and look at the whole situation.\" <\/p>\n
The bill would prevent any class, classroom material or extracurricular activity from \"discuss(ing) sexual orientation other than in scientific instruction concerning human reproduction.\" <\/p>\n
Wyatt and other opponents say it would outlaw gay-straight alliance groups and send a negative message to confused teens. <\/p>\n
The proposal has been skewered on cable television and it has left national gay rights activists questioning Missouri lawmakers' priorities. <\/p>\n
Rep. Steve Cookson, a Republican from Fairdealing in southeast Missouri who is sponsoring the bill, gave no indication he would withdraw the measure. Cookson said detractors are distorting its \"true intent.\" <\/p>\n
\"In a time when our public schools continue to struggle financially, we want their focus to be solely on core education issues such as math, science and reading; and not on topics that are better left for discussion in the home at the discretion of parents,\" he said in a statement. <\/p>\n
He said the bill would not prevent kids who are struggling with their sexuality from speaking to school counselors in private. <\/p>\n
\"My bill does not target a particular sexual orientation but instead says instruction or materials related to any sexual orientation should not take place in our public schools,\" he said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nMissouri lawmaker announces he is gay, denounces school bill<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"