Ike Skelton: Defender of Family Values
A group of gay-rights activists plans to protest outside U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton's district office in Jefferson City this morning.
Members of the LGBT organizations
GetEqual and
Show Me No Hate say they will drop off a petition with 3,000-plus signatures calling for the Missouri Democrat to apologize for
"homophobic remarks" he made last week about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
During a media breakfast June 8, Skelton -- chair of the House Armed Service Committee -- told reporters he didn't want gays to serve openly in the military because it's just not family friendly.
"What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?" Skelton
asked journalists at a media breakfast. "My biggest concerns are the
family."
Protesters also plan to read aloud a letter addressed to Skelton from a gay, Missouri soldier who is currently on active duty in Baghdad and facing discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
In a
statement, Show Me No Hate co-founder
Ed Reggi says that the Missouri Democrat's refusal to apologize for last week's "homophobic remarks" can only be interpreted as a "blatant disregard for the care and
treatment of his gay and lesbian constituents" and that today's protest will "hold the Congressman accountable for his homophobia."