Gay lawmaker destroys Republican over anti-trans bill: ‘Gentlemen, I am not afraid of you anymore’

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A gay politician has gone viral for passionately confronting a Republican lawmaker over a bill that would ban trans athletes from school sports.

Missouri state representative Ian Mackey delivered a personal and impassioned speech while the state House considered legislation that would ban trans students from participating in school sports. 

The Democrat recalled his experience growing up in an area that was not accepting of the LGBT+ community. Mackey even brought up the gay brother of Chuck Basye, the GOP lawmaker who proposed the anti-trans amendment, and discussed how Basye’s brother was “afraid” to come out to the family. 

“Your brother wanted to tell you he was gay, didn’t he?” Mackey asked.

Basye said that his brother did but was worried that Bayse would “hold that against him and not let my children be around him”. When questioned about why his brother would think this, the Republican admitted that he didn’t know why his brother had that response, adding he would “never” isolate his children from their uncle.

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“I would have been afraid to tell you too,” Mackey declared. “I would have been afraid to tell you to because of stuff like this – because this is what you’re focused on.”

He continued: “This is the legislation you want to put forward. This is what consumes your time.”

The gay lawmaker admitted that he was once “afraid of people like you growing up” in Hickory County, Missouri. He added that he even “grew up in a school district that would vote tomorrow” to enact the anti-trans ban. 

Mackey said that he had known “nice people” like his Republican counterpart who pushed legislation attacking the LGBT+ community as a child and was thankful he was able to “make it out” as an adult. 

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“Thank God I made it out,” he said. “I think every day of the kids who are still there who haven’t made it out, who haven’t escaped from this kind of bigotry.”

He continued: “Gentlemen, I’m not afraid of you anymore because you’re going to lose.

“You may win this today, but you’re going to lose.”

Footage of Mackey’s remarks has gone viral across social media with several people on Twitter sharing the gay politician’s powerful speech.

Meanwhile, in Missouri, State Representative @IanMack03007724 gives one of the most powerful speeches I have ever heard.

Turn on the volume. You want this timeline cleanse.pic.twitter.com/IPaxHtEJyH

— Lindsey Simmons (@LynzforCongress) April 15, 2022

Dear Missouri State Representative Ian Mackey @IanMack03007724 —

I am a Missouri-born, Kansas-raised person. I’m like you.

Just like you, I was scared for a long time.

Just like you, I am scared no more.

Your remarks here are perfection. Thank you for your courage. https://t.co/2UYErSwzfF

— Chely Wright (@chelywright) April 15, 2022

I've somehow avoided this all day but I just saw it for the first time today and I'm crying.

I come from a tiny town in Louisiana that would vote for every single anti-trans bill that I've dropped in this feed for the last 3 months.

I feel this man's emotions raw. https://t.co/ClVXuoT3QB

— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) April 15, 2022