In response to an earnest teacher's letter asking Missouri GOP Representative Chuck Basye to rethink his extreme stance against transgender girls, the Republican politician replied, in writing:
"I don't care about your feelings."
Retired teacher Nedra Jeffress of Independence, Missouri wrote to the state lawmaker in an attempt to explain the harmful impact of keeping transgender girls from participating in sports while in school.
She wrote:
“I’m wondering if there is data supporting the need for bills regulating this in Missouri or if this (is) a solution in search of a problem.”
“As an educator who has worked at the middle school and high school level in Missouri, I know how hard it is for transgender students to be accepted by peers, parents, churches and some teachers."
"If they are able to participate on an athletic team, they may find acceptance important to their well-being."
"I hope you would sponsor bills that support positive mental health for each citizen of the state of Missouri instead of proposing bills that attack a population already at risk."
"Thank you for your time.”
Basye's reply to his constituent was transphobic and overly aggressive.
GOP Rep. Chuck Basye to a former Missouri teacher who sent him a letter opposing his efforts to ban trans girls from sports: \u201cI don\u2019t care about your feelings \u2026 Now go ahead and have your meltdown and/or temper tantrum. Remember, Let\u2019s Go Brandon!\u201d#moleghttps://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html#storylink=cpy\u00a0\u2026— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1650926800
He answered:
“Nedra, Do your own research. I don’t care about your feelings nor do I care about your resume."
“Bottom line, my intent is to keep women’s/girl’s sports for the female gender."
“If a person was born with a penis, that individual doesn’t belong in sports designed solely for females."
“Now go ahead and have your meltdown and/or temper tantrum. Remember, Let’s Go Brandon!!”
His answer was criticized as unprofessional, impolite and childish.
One person wrote:
"This man owes so many people a public apology."
"13 days and he will be gone!!"
"Chuck Basye to #Missouri teacher: I don’t care about your feelings."
This man owes so many people a public apology. 13 days and he will be gone!!\n\nChuck Basye to #Missouri teacher: I don\u2019t care about your feelings. \n\n#moleghttps://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html\u00a0\u2026— Christine Hyman (@Christine Hyman) 1651011184
Another person tweeted:
"It's incredible that this person is on the public payroll but has zero comprehension of what it means to be a public servant."
It's incredible that this person is on the public payroll but has zero comprehension of what it means to be a public servant.— New York for Biden-Harris (@New York for Biden-Harris) 1650926956
Lawmakers like this NEED TO GO. What an a$! Elected officials insulting citizens seems the new norm.https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html\u00a0\u2026— Lee Burnett (@Lee Burnett) 1650998846
Deplorable really isn't a strong enough word for these hateful garbage humanshttps://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\udcd3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udceb\ud835\udceb\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcee \ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcea\ud835\udd02\ud835\udcfc\ud83d\udc69\ud83d\udcad (@\ud835\udcd3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udceb\ud835\udceb\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcee \ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcea\ud835\udd02\ud835\udcfc\ud83d\udc69\ud83d\udcad) 1650980703
The lack of maturity with so many grown men is embarrassing.— Phil Greiner (@Phil Greiner) 1650999988
Someone else noted:
"Any lawmaker who says ‘I don’t care about your feelings’ is unfit for the responsibility of public service..."
Any lawmaker who says \u2018I don\u2019t care about your feelings\u2019 is unfit for the responsibility of public service #Missouri #IAmAVoter #ChuckBasyehttps://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html\u00a0\u2026— Amanda B. Cronkhite (@Amanda B. Cronkhite) 1651009560
Jeffress was a teacher in Independence, Missouri for 29 years.
Many are disgusted with Basye's petulant, peurile reply to a taxpaying voter from his own state.
Someone tweeted:
"Hateful response to someone sharing legitimate concerns based on actual personal experience working with teenagers."
Hateful response to someone sharing legitimate concerns based on actual personal experience working with teenagers.https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html\u00a0\u2026— Tonya (@Tonya) 1650990624
Another person commented:
"It truly is weird to see elderly folks just be so unprofessional, petty and immature."
"And these folks are supposed to represent the people."
"If you ever treated someone at work the way some government officials have been treating each other and private individuals, you’d be fired."
It truly is weird to see elderly folks just be so unprofessional, petty and immature. And these folks are supposed to represent the people. If you ever treated someone at work the way some government officials have been treating each other and private individuals, you\u2019d be fired— BVreyes (@BVreyes) 1650937440
Another example of the GOP's action not matching their attempts to say they are protecting our children. \n\nMissouri lawmaker writes back to retired teacher: \u2018I don\u2019t care about your feelings\u2019 https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article260751997.html\u00a0\u2026 #SmartNews— Monica Causey, MSW, APSW (@Monica Causey, MSW, APSW) 1650927897
The letter to Basye came in response to a proposed measure by Basye to limit transgender student rights.
It would allow individual school districts to hold votes to prohibit transgender girls from playing on girls' sports teams.
The measure was approved by the Missouri House on April 15.
