From the editorial board of the Kansas City Star:
The decision to remove a display of Kansas City’s gay and lesbian history from the Missouri State Capitol is outrageous, potentially illegal, and yet another embarrassment for a state with a history of intolerance.
It appears a state legislative staffer was somehow offended by the exhibit, raised a stink on social media, got a few legislators to agree, and DNR pulled the display after just four days. “To God be the Glory!” the offended staffer posted on Facebook.
From 1996 until 2001, the Taliban destroyed much of the cultural and intellectual history of Afghanistan. Taliban fighters claimed a faith motive for the destruction. “We deem it a must … because of our religious responsibility,” a spokesman said at the time. That isn’t “to God be the Glory!” but it’s close. Too close.
Read the full editorial. Whoa.
Photo: Missouri state Sen. Mitch Boggs, whose legislative aide filed the complaint.
.@KCStarOpinion: “To God be the glory!” wrote a legislative staffer when an exhibit on Kansas City LGBT history was removed from the Missouri State Capitol. | Editorial https://t.co/o9Mib0uecK
— The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) September 3, 2021
“Razer said he believed the parks department, which oversees the museum, removed the exhibit in response to political pressure from other legislators…Uriah Stark, a legislative aide for state Rep. Mitch Boggs, a Republican from LaRussell, posted a complaint about the exhibit…” https://t.co/R1BvrOIiYc
— Benjamin McKean (@BLMcKean) September 3, 2021
Uriah Stark for the @tedcruz campaign. #MillerCoRepLincolnDay pic.twitter.com/UL2AC79WGC
— Colleen Abbott (@cabbott81) March 13, 2016
This is Uriah Stark! He is legislative assistant to Missouri Republican state rep. Mitch Boggs. Stark successfully removed an LGBTQ+ exhibit from the Missouri State Museum. After removal Stark was quoted, “To God be the glory!” pic.twitter.com/mxPuoXtrGF
— Ron Sparling (@RonSparling1) September 3, 2021
Simpering MO Taliban named Uriah Stark @StarkUriah is leg aide to MO state Rep Mitch Biggs (R-Kandahar, oops, Joplin area). He threw hissy fit, got LGBTQ exhibit removed from MO state capitol. He’s also anti-vax, pro-Trump, loves TX abortion law. Drop by on Twitter or FB. Say hi pic.twitter.com/Xn6l8NWrok
— Charles Jaco (@charlesjaco1) September 2, 2021