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Two Republican Missouri Representatives got into a heated debate this week over a proposed anti-LGBTQ+ bill many say is even more draconian than Florida's notorious so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill.
The bill sponsored by Republican Missouri Representative Ann Kelley would ban teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
During a legislative session, Kelley's colleague, Republican Representative Phil Christofanelli, who is gay, ripped her legislation apart by simply asking how it would apply to heterosexuality--which is, of course, a sexual orientation.
The results were... well, really something. See the moment below.
MO State Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R) criticizes fellow GOP Rep. Ann Kelley's anti-LGBT school bill.
PC: Who is Martha Washington?
AK: [George Washington's] wife.
PC: With your bill, how could that be mentioned in the classroom?
AK: That's not sexual orientation.
PC: Really? pic.twitter.com/3usn7LUg6Q
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 6, 2023
Pointing to the verbiage in the bill, Christofanelli began by posing a simple question:
“I’m just going to read you the language in your bill. No classroom instruction by personnel or third parties relating to sexual orientation or gender identity shall occur."
"You mentioned George Washington. Who is Martha Washington?"
Kelley answered that she was, of course, Washington's wife. Christofanelli then followed up with the obvious question--how under her bill would a teacher be able to teach about Martha Washington if sexual orientation is prohibited from being spoken of.
Kelley, backed into a corner, of course tipped her hand, responding:
“So to me, that’s not sexual orientation.”
Speaking for everyone with a functioning brain, Christofanelli retorted:
"Really. So it’s only really certain sexual orientations that you want prohibited from introduction in the classroom."
It only got dumber from there. After Christofanelli asked her to clarify what her bill says, Kelley claimed that the heart of the matter is everyone's "moral compass," which in her case, "comes from the Bible."
Unfortunately, Kelley once again contradicted herself, and Christofanelli was at the ready with the receipts.
“You said that you didn’t want teachers’ personal beliefs entering the classroom, but it seemed a lot like your personal beliefs you would like to enter all Missouri classrooms."
The rest of the conversation went about as well as you'd guess--Kelley was fully incapable of answering Christofanelli's very simple question about whether or not a teacher would be allowed to teach about Martha Washington under her legislation, and gave up trying.
Kelley's face-plant of a performance in the debate certainly made an impression on Twitter, where many people were in disbelief at the things she said and questions she couldn't answer.
“And my moral compass is compared with Bible.”
A grown adult uttered this sentence.
— Nick Pappas 🌻 (@NickAPappas) March 7, 2023
And still she talks about keeping 'beliefs' out of the classroom, refusing to acknowledge she is intending to impose HERs on *every* classroom. I'm pretty sure she realizes how hypocritical she is too, considering her awkward silence at the end.
— Angelo Wentzler (@meneer_pastoor) March 6, 2023
He ask her who is Martha Washington and the ONLY thing she says is she is the wife of GW. Then she goes on to say “well why is she famous? Is it because she’s his wife??” Like that was the ONLY thing she used to describe Martha.
— TyleRVA 🇺🇸 (@TMoneyFoReaaal) March 6, 2023
She actually says the quiet part out loud.
I don’t want you instilling your beliefs onto me or the children, but I want to instil my beliefs onto you and everybody else.
— THEE Emanzi 🇺🇦 (@emanzi) March 6, 2023
Problem is based on our constitution you don't have to believe in the bible. It's a right to not have to believe in all that. What she wants though is your kids to not have that right and the classroom is turned into a church where they preach because people are leaving church.
— Needsmorecookies (@bnapier1977) March 6, 2023
They really haven't thought any of this through ... what are kids supposed to call their teachers? By their first name? Their last name? Since Mr., Ms., and Mrs. would all signify specific genders.
— KelShel pt2 ☮️ 🇺🇦 (@ShelKel2) March 6, 2023
Love the long, long pause.
The @GOP of today doesn't understand that their efforts to discriminate against one group can cut both ways, on SO many issues.
— MLZ (@ZambranaML) March 6, 2023
I said the other day, if you can't replace the main point of your bill with the words "white male" and get it to pass, you should get rid of it.
— Dan Konrady (@felixsdadsdad) March 6, 2023
I don't normally applaud Republicans, but Rep. Christofanelli handled that exquisitely.
It never seemed to dawn on Kelley prior to this that identifying husband/wife relationships indicates sexual orientation. But, of course, she was only thinking about "the gays."
— ⚖ John Adams ☕ (@JohnAdamsGA) March 6, 2023
Kelley’s bill, House Bill 634 was introduced on Feb. 23 and would ban all instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in public and charter schools through 12th grade.
She is the same Missouri lawmaker who made waves in February for proposing an absurd dress code for female members of the Missouri House of Representatives.
That resolution passed and now women in the Missouri House must wear jackets to cover up their filthy, sinful arms, thank goodness.