Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s Gay Nephew Responds To Her Tearful Speech
On Thursday, December 08, Missouri Representative Vicky Hartzler addressed the House of Representatives to lobby for her fellow peers to vote against the Respect For Marriage Act. During her speech, Hartzler called the act “dangerous” and “misguided” while crying, reports Advocate.
Ms Hartzler’s nephew, Andrew Hartzler, has responded on TikTok with a video that directly addresses her statements and takes a firm stance against the sentiment.
“YOU’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO COEXIST…”
Andrew Hartzler has only three videos on his account at the time of writing and the second is a response to key arguments made by his Aunt during her speech to the House.
Among the claims that Vicky Hartzler made were that religious institutions are under threat. “Let’s be clear. Obergefell is not in danger, but people and institutions of faith are,” she says. “The bills implications: Submit to our ideology or be silenced.”
Ms Hartzler’s statements are a case study into what conservatives oppose about the Respect For Marriage Act. Her gay nephew dismantles those concerns in his video.
“Institutions of faith like religious universities and not being silenced. They’re being empowered by the US government to discriminate against tens of thousands of LGBTQIA+ students because of religious exemptions, but they still receive federal funding,” says Andrew Hartzler.
“It’s more like you want the power to force your religious beliefs onto everyone else and because you don’t have that power you feel like you’re being silenced. But you’re not. You’re just going to have to learn to coexist with all of us.”
DNA OPINION
The video has a familiar sense about it for LGBTQIA+ folks and our allies who have had to sit across the dinner table during the holidays and argue against conservative family members. Andrew Hartzler used his platform to eloquently and gently navigate the debate about religious freedom and social justice.
Vicky Hartzler and religious conservatives like her are emotional about their right to express their faith, which is a valid and understandable concern. It becomes unreasonable when faith is used as a tool against vulnerable minority groups and it is fortunate people like Andrew can stand up to this discrimination, even if it comes from his own family.
