Missouri representative announces he is gay, opposes proposal to limit sexuality discussions in school

Intro:	A school bill that's gained national attention is under scrutiny by a legislator with a personal connection.
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Wrap: 2nd District Republican Representative Zachary Wyatt publicly announced he's gay and criticized the bill.

He says it would cause problems in public schools.

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Description: "Kids are being permanently bombarded with new things, and I think they should be able to trust their counselors, teachers and administrators on issues regarding their sexuality. I think they should be in a safe setting where they can speak about that."

Republican Representative Lyle Rowland co-sponsors the bill.

He says students would still be able to talk with counselors on an individual level, but sexuality doesn't belong in the curriculum.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mark Hodges, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	A bill that would limit discussions of sexuality in public schools is being attacked by a lawmaker with a personal connection to the issue.
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Wrap: 2nd District Republican Representative Zachary Wyatt publicly announced he's gay and strongly opposes the bill.

He argues the bill would restrict school organizations that are helpful to students struggling with sexuality.

The bill's co-sponsor, Republican Representative Lyle Rowland, says those groups should not be official school organizations.

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Description: "It can't be within the school itself. But it can be outside. So allow these things to be outside - I truly don't see a problem with that. And the bill doesn't address that."

Rowland says it's unlikely the bill will go anywhere with less than three weeks in the legislative session.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mark Hodges.

Intro:	A Missouri lawmaker chose to publicly announce he's gay following the introduction of a bill that would limit discussions of sexuality in public schools.
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Wrap: Kirksville Republican Representative Zachary Wyatt says he came out to protest the bill, and that his own party members need to understand the implications of supporting it.

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Description: "One bill with three lines in it can be very very hurtful. And I think my party needed to have a little face with possibly the people that they'd be hurting within that bill."

Bill co-sponsor, Republican Representative Lyle Rowland, says discussions about sexual orientation are better left at home.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mark Hodges.

Intro:	A Missouri lawmaker publicly announced he's gay in response to a bill that would limit discussing sexual orientation in public schools.
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Wrap: Kirksville Republican Representative Zachary Wyatt, like many, was teased as a teen.

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Description: "Well I actually was bullied when I was in high school. A lot of it came from my weight, also the perception of being gay in high school, you get bullied for that as well."

He says that's why he came out to fight the proposed restrictions on discussing sexuality.

Bill co-sponsor, Republican Representative Lyle Rowland, says students should talk about these issues with family and organizations NOT affiliated with public schools.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mark Hodges.

Intro:	A Missouri lawmaker kept his sexuality hidden during most of his public life - now he's coming out to oppose a bill that would restrict discussions of sexuality in public schools.
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Wrap: Kirksville Republican Representative Zachary Wyatt says the bill hits close to home since he was bullied in high school.

He says it's important to have strong resources within the school to support discussions on sexual orientation.

But the bill's co-sponsor, Republican Representative Lyle Rowland, says those kinds of discussions should be separate from public schools.

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Description: "I'm a traditionalist, maybe from the old school. I don't believe that schools are a place where we have organized discussion about sexual orientation. I think that's something that's better left at home."

Rowland says it's unlikely the bill will go anywhere with less than three weeks in the legislative session.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mark Hodges.