Alan Hays
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D. Alan Hays (born March 12, 1946 in Henderson, Kentucky) is a Republican Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. Hays is a representative of Umatilla, located approximately 50 miles north of Orlando. He was elected to the house in 2004. He received his Associates degree from Conners State College in Warner, Oklahoma, and his Doctorate in Dentistry from the University of Florida. Hays serves as Vice-Chair of the Health Quality Committee, and sits on the Audit & Performance Committee and the Healthcare Committee and the Joint Administrative Procedures Commission.
Hays is affiliated with the Florida Medical Association Council, is a retired dentist, and won Christian Coalition Faith & Family awards in 2005 and 2006. He has also been honored by the state Association of Health Plans and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
[edit] Controversy
On June 13, 2007 it was alleged that Rep. Hays had made a homophobic remark to a group of AIDS and health care advocates who were in his Capitol Office in Tallahassee lobbying him on looming changes to Florida's Medicaid program for people living with HIV/AIDS. According to several of the 15 or so people in the room at the time, Rep. Hays stated, "My cousin died of AIDS; he was queer as a three-dollar bill. He had that homosexual lifestyle and deserved what he got."[1][2][3][4] Hays later denied having said the remark.[2][5][3]
Several gay rights and AIDS groups issued statements denouncing Hays’ alleged remark. Advocates demanded Florida Governor Charlie Crist to repudiate the remark[1][2][4] and for concerned citizens to contact Crist and Representative Marco Rubio to have Hays removed from his various positions.[6] “His comments are outrageous and require that all people of conscious raise their voices,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida.[2] Hays, a retired dentist, denied the slur. "That is totally incorrect. I did tell them that I had a cousin that died [of AIDS].... To assert that I said they get what they deserve is just beyond comprehension," he said from Tallahassee. Hays said he has treated AIDS patients as a medical professional. He also said he was "very empathetic" with the group's "one-on-one" disease-management care.[3] Hays issued a statement through his office denying that he said his cousin deserved to die.
"I am known for being plain spoken and for speaking my mind, but I am outraged that this group is making these claims against me. I have spent a lifetime as a health-care professional and have compassionately cared for several patients afflicted with AIDS. My own cousin died of this disease, and it was a tragedy for him to die so young. To say that I said otherwise is absolutely not true."[2][5]
According to Smith of Equality Florida, earlier in March Hays allegedly made an anti-gay remark while meeting with a group of students who were lobbying for a safe schools bill. One of the students present in that meeting with Hays, Jessica Osborn, described the remark as follows: "After telling [Hays] my story, he proceeded to say he was repulsed by homosexuals, and we needed extensive psychological treatment," Osborn said. Hays did not deny telling the students that they needed psychological treatment.[2][5][4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Crist Asked to Repudiate Gay AIDS Slur by Republican Florida Legislator (accessed: October 3, 2007)
- ^ a b c d e f State rep denies making anti-gay slur (accessed: October 3, 2007)
- ^ a b c Group accuses lawmaker of anti-gay remark (accessed: October 3, 2007)
- ^ a b c Florida Rep. D. Alan Hays’ Recent Anti-Gay Remark to HIV/AIDS Nurses Proves Disturbing Pattern of Discrimination, Homophobia (accessed: October 3, 2007)
- ^ a b c Gay groups call for homophobic lawmaker's job (accessed: October 3, 2007)
- ^ Does Rep. Hays Speak For You? (accessed: October 3, 2007)
