Republican allegedly compared gay sex to bestiality in meeting with teens
Wyoming state senator Lynn Hutchings (Hutchings for Senate campaign)
Wyoming Republican lawmaker Lynn Hutchings is facing a formal complaint, after allegedly comparing being gay to having sex with dogs in a meeting with kids as young as 14.
Hutchings, who serves in the Wyoming Senate, is alleged to have made the comments to a group of young people who were visiting the state capitol for Gay-Straight Alliance Civics Day on February 1.
LGBT+ young people and allies were using the day to learn about state government, and speak to politicians about an anti-discrimination bill that would extend protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
A group of 10 young people from Cheyenne Central High School in Senator Hutchings’ district met with the Republican official to lobby her on the issue, but were left stunned when she reportedly responded by comparing homosexuality to having sex with dogs.
Republican lawmaker Lynn Hutchings faces conduct complaint over alleged ‘sex with dogs’ comments
LGBT+ group Wyoming Equality alleges that during the discussion, she asked: “If my sexual orientation was to have sex with all of the men in there and I had sex with all of the women in there and then they brought their children and I had sex with all of them and then brought their dogs in and I had sex with them, should I be protected for my sexual orientation?”
Wyoming Republican state senator Lynn Hutchings. (Hutchings for Senate campaign)
Following the incident, the group has raised a formal complaint in a letter the Republican Senate leader Drew Perkins, alleging her comments were inappropriate for a discussion with 14 year olds.
The February 4 letter states: “Senator Hutchings’ behaviour was unacceptable and inexcusable. 14- and 15-year-old high school students wishing to engage with the legislative process should not have been confronted with the comments made by Senator Hutchings.
“Those students, some of which identify as LGBTQ, were deeply hurt and disturbed that they were compared to acts of bestiality and pedophilia.
“The students’ sentiment was exacerbated especially after Senator Hutchings hypothetically recounted the idea of sexually engaging with children then physically engaged with the students.”
The group added: “On GSA Civics Day, we expect students to be challenged and engage in lively civic dialogue. This is not what transpired.
“The students spoke with several legislators that day. For the exception of the incident with Senator Hutchings, the students said all their interactions with legislators were civil and respectful no matter where the legislators stood on bills and issues.”
The group asked for “a clear, direct apology and clarification that Senator Hutchings’ behaviour was unacceptable and inappropriate.”
Wyoming Republican leaders are yet to respond to complaint
Perkins is yet to respond to the letter of complaint, but KPVI reports he is planning to meet with Hutchings to discuss the incident.
Hutchings did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
There is no recording of the comments, but Hutchings has some form when it comes to inflammatory comments towards LGBT+ people.
The lawmaker has previously accused LGBT+ people of “carpet-bagging on our civil rights movement.”
Opposing a domestic partnership bill in 2013, she said: “It is but a choice. Being black is involuntary, it is not a choice. Homosexuals may choose who they want to be.”
In the speech Hutchings also claimed that the gay “lifestyle” is harmful, invoking the AIDS crisis.
Wyoming Equality added: “To GSA students and LGBTQ youth: You are our heroes. We’re so proud of your reliance and strength. Your stories and experiences matter.
“In this fight for equality, we’ve got your back because when you attack one of us, you attack all of us.”
Wyoming is among 28 US states ranked as lacking “basic equality” for LGBT+ people, according to the Human Rights Campaign’s State Equality Index.
