• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

Married Anti-Gay Missouri House Speaker Busted for Sexting with Freshman Intern

May 13, 2015 by Sean Mandell

John Diehl, Missouri's anti-gay Speaker of the state's House of Representatives, has been caught in a sexting scandal with an unnamed college freshman intern, admitting to displaying "poor judgment" after first denying any such 'sexts' ever took place. Diehl is married with three children. 

The Kansas City Star reports:

JohnDiehlJrFloorThe conversations unveil a flirty rapport and suggest an intimacy between arguably the state’s most influential lawmaker and a young woman taking some pleasure in a secret association.

The texts show occasional efforts by Diehl and the intern to meet in person. They range from mundane chatter, about boring meetings and dreading speeches, to the more sexually suggestive.

Diehl initially declined to comment. But about six hours after the story was posted online, he issued a statement.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and am truly sorry to those I let down,” Diehl’s statement said. “I apologize for the poor judgment I displayed that put me and those closest to me in this situation. I also regret that the woman has been dragged into this situation. The buck stops here. I ask for forgiveness. I will begin immediately working to restore the trust of those closest to me, and getting back to the important work that is required in the final days of session.”

Multiple sources helped The Star confirm that the screenshots of the texts, which show Diehl’s business cellphone number, originated from the intern’s smartphone. The text conversations also included photographs of each of them. And others who know Diehl well said they recognized the language and tone of the conversations from their own text exchanges with him.

The screenshots of the conversations between Diehl and the intern also reveal that the intern at one point saved Diehl's number in her phone as "Frank Underwood."

Right Wing Watch reports on Diehl's history of advocating against gay rights causes:
 
Earlier this year, Diehl and the president pro-tempore of the state Senate filed an amicus brief in defense of the state’s anti-gay-marriage amendment, leading the Missouri Family Policy Council, the state affiliate of the Family Research Council, to praise the speaker “for demonstrating moral leadership and true integrity in standing up for the sacred institution of marriage and the family values of the people of Missouri.” The state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention thanked him for “fighting to defend biblical marriage.” 
 
Diehl also co-sponsored a bill in 2012 that would have banned gay-straight alliances in Missouri.

You can read some of the textual conversations for yourself, AFTER THE JUMP…
 

House speaker text digital

 

 

 

Speaker Texts 001

Speaker Texts 002
 

 

Filed Under: Missouri, News Tagged With: Missouri, News

Recent Posts

  • Jerome Adams, Wonka, Nats Getty, Drain the Swamp, Vogue, Patriot Party, Cher, The Lady and The Dale: HOT LINKS

    Jerome Adams, Wonka, Nats Getty, Drain the Swamp, Vogue, Patriot Party, Cher, The Lady and The Dale: HOT LINKS

    8 hours ago
  • Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: LIVE VIDEO

    Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: LIVE VIDEO

    11 hours ago
  • World #3 Golfer Justin Thomas Says He’ll Undergo ‘Better Person’ Training Program After Using Homophobic Slur

    World #3 Golfer Justin Thomas Says He’ll Undergo ‘Better Person’ Training Program After Using Homophobic Slur

    12 hours ago
  • John Bolton: Trump ‘Did Incite the Riot’ with the Intention to ‘Prevent Congress from Certifying the Vote’ — WATCH

    John Bolton: Trump ‘Did Incite the Riot’ with the Intention to ‘Prevent Congress from Certifying the Vote’ — WATCH

    12 hours ago
Previous Post: « Phyllis Schlafly: Gay Activists Want To ‘Wipe Out’ Christianity – LISTEN
Next Post: NEWS: Amtrak Derailment, Tiger Woods, Mars, Trans Rights »

Primary Sidebar

  • Jerome Adams, Wonka, Nats Getty, Drain the Swamp, Vogue, Patriot Party, Cher, The Lady and The Dale: HOT LINKS

  • Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: LIVE VIDEO

  • World #3 Golfer Justin Thomas Says He’ll Undergo ‘Better Person’ Training Program After Using Homophobic Slur

Recent Posts

  • Jerome Adams, Wonka, Nats Getty, Drain the Swamp, Vogue, Patriot Party, Cher, The Lady and The Dale: HOT LINKS

    Jerome Adams, Wonka, Nats Getty, Drain the Swamp, Vogue, Patriot Party, Cher, The Lady and The Dale: HOT LINKS

    8 hours ago
  • Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: LIVE VIDEO

    Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: LIVE VIDEO

    11 hours ago
  • World #3 Golfer Justin Thomas Says He’ll Undergo ‘Better Person’ Training Program After Using Homophobic Slur

    World #3 Golfer Justin Thomas Says He’ll Undergo ‘Better Person’ Training Program After Using Homophobic Slur

    12 hours ago
  • John Bolton: Trump ‘Did Incite the Riot’ with the Intention to ‘Prevent Congress from Certifying the Vote’ — WATCH

    John Bolton: Trump ‘Did Incite the Riot’ with the Intention to ‘Prevent Congress from Certifying the Vote’ — WATCH

    12 hours ago
  • Disgraced Trump Leaves White House for Last Time, Holds Sendoff for Himself: WATCH

    Disgraced Trump Leaves White House for Last Time, Holds Sendoff for Himself: WATCH

    12 hours ago
  • Claudia Conway Alleges Physical and Verbal Abuse by Kellyanne Conway in Disturbing TikTok Videos: ‘Ungrateful B*tch!’ — WATCH

    Claudia Conway Alleges Physical and Verbal Abuse by Kellyanne Conway in Disturbing TikTok Videos: ‘Ungrateful B*tch!’ — WATCH

    12 hours ago
  • Democrats Urged to Reject ‘Desperate’ McConnell Effort to Preserve Filibuster and Kneecap Biden’s Agenda

    Democrats Urged to Reject ‘Desperate’ McConnell Effort to Preserve Filibuster and Kneecap Biden’s Agenda

    13 hours ago
  • Pelosi: Trump’s Role in US Capitol Insurrection Makes Him an Accessory to Murder: WATCH

    Pelosi: Trump’s Role in US Capitol Insurrection Makes Him an Accessory to Murder: WATCH

    14 hours ago
  • Trump Issues 143 Pardons and Commutations including Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne, Kwame Kilpatrick

    Trump Issues 143 Pardons and Commutations including Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne, Kwame Kilpatrick

    15 hours ago
  • Amanda Gorman, Tokyo Olympics, Putin’s Secret Estate, Dwyane Wade, Lady Gaga, Chris Evans, Hungary: HOT LINKS

    Amanda Gorman, Tokyo Olympics, Putin’s Secret Estate, Dwyane Wade, Lady Gaga, Chris Evans, Hungary: HOT LINKS

    1 day ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Log in