Republican exposes hypocrisy of colleague’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill in viral video
Missouri state representative Ann Kelley was left red-faced when fellow Republican Phil Christofanelli quizzed her over the language in her anti-LGBTQ+ school bill.
The legislation – which is effectively an imitation of Florida’s infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill – would see “sexual orientation and gender identity” banned from all classrooms in Missouri.
HB634 was challenged over its broad and overarching language in a now-viral clip in which Kelley is unable to answer basic questions about the bill, of which she is the only sponsor.
After reading out the section on gender identity, Christofanelli asked his colleague who Martha Washington is. Kelley paused before stating she was the wife of George Washington, to which Christofanelli questioned how this could be mentioned in a classroom if her bill were to take effect. “So, to me, that’s not sexual orientation,” she responded as audible murmurs could be heard from the viewing gallery behind her.
