Marsha Looper's Gay Son Exposed by Campaign: Republican 'Disappointed' in Political Posturing
Marsha Looper's gay son was outed by her campaign manager, but the Republican state representative from Colorado told reporters she was "disappointed" at her family being used for political posturing.
Marsha Looper's gay son was no secret: The Denver Post reported that she was one of "at least four House Republicans with a gay child." However, Looper's campaign manager, Lana Fore-Warkocz, took it upon herself to reveal the son's sexuality in an email, pointing out that the candidate stuck to her Christian beliefs despite her son's actions.
"God is truly to be praised for Marsha Looper because she also has a homosexual son," read the email, continuing "Praise God!" because she had voted against a civil unions bill, choosing instead to "protect" religious liberties "from harm."
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Fore-Warkocz using Looper's personal life to sway voters didn't sit well with the candidate, however. Looper is going up against Rep. Amy Stephens in a June 26 primary.
"I'm very, very disappointed," Looper told The Denver Post. "I am disappointed that my campaign manager forwarded an e-mail that would include any member of my family in policy discussions." From there, she charged that no candidate's family should ever be exposed as part of a campaign.
"These are very intimate issues. I love my son. I always will. He has said, 'Mom, I want my privacy,'" she added.
Her son's sexuality did not affect her responsibilities as a lawmaker, though. Looper, along with other lawmakers, voted against the bill, and it died in a special session by one vote in a committee. The session was headed by another Republican lawmaker, Don Coram, who also has a homosexual son.
Looper was satisfied with the bill being voted down, but was "disappointed" that it had made it thus far.
"I am disappointed that we had to have a special session in the first place," she told the Colorado Statesman. "I think it's a complete lack of leadership that the bill made it through three committees … if the leadership was intent on killing the bill in the first place, it should have gone to State Affairs weeks ago instead of dragging it out like this."
"I agree with the decision to kill the bill, but I am disappointed in the process," Looper added.
