Texas Radio Host Attacks Gay Lawmaker for Trying to Prevent Suicide

Fort Worth, Texas City Councilman Joel Burns made history last month, when he used a city council meeting to tell his own story of growing up gay, contemplating suicide, but hanging on and building a life that made him both happy and proud. It was the type of spontaneous moment in politics that is, unfortunately, all too rare and all too human. And the world was touched.

Well, everybody but Texas radio host Chris Krok. The KLIF radio personality took to the airwaves to blast Burns for his open talk about homosexuality, and for sharing his experience about the difficulty of growing up a gay youth. Krok even donned his best lisp to imitate the gay lawmaker.

“Look at me! I Thuffered!” Krok said on the radio, pretending to be Burns. He added that Burns ought to just shut up and stop talking about gay bullying.

Now, we get that people have all sorts of political leanings when it comes to LGBT issues. And perhaps Krok doesn't know any gay people, or thinks that homosexuality is some sort of aberrant sexual orientation forced upon humanity by Satan. But to attack a lawmaker for wanting to stop the bullying of LGBT youth? That's just ... well, cruel.

Talk About Equality covered Krok's rant, and noted that his reaction to the Burns story is troubling in the message of intolerance it sends to both gay and straight young people.

"Krok personifies the intolerance and ignorance that LGBT kids face on a daily basis," they write. "We will be investigating this further and finding out the advertisers associated with this show and asking people to make calls to the show’s supporters as well."

Now that's some bold, progressive, and wonderful action.

The rest of Krok's comments were just as aggravating as his mock lisp. He blamed Burns for being selfish in taking advantage of a news cycle dominated by stories of LGBT suicide to talk about his own story. And then he accused Burns of trying to raise homosexuality up so that children would convert.

"You're promoting the gay agenda," Krok said. "You have no business bringing this up at a city council meeting."

How tragic that a shock jock would belittle what was probably the most authentic moment in American politics this past year.

Check out Krok's segment below. A fair warning that it might offend. After listening, feel free to send the folks over at KLIF a message that they should demand better from their radio personalities. Yes, their radio hosts might have differing views on homosexuality and various issues related to the LGBT community. But do dedicate nearly ten minutes to bashing an openly gay lawmaker for talking about suicide among LGBT youth? It's tactless and insensitive.

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