Let’s remind Fuller he represents all of us

In a recent letter (Glacier Queer Alliance Director’s Criticism Off-Base, Dec. 1) from the Whitefish man who is the new state senator representing Kalispell, there were several disingenuous questions. Mr. Fuller wondered why the people of this valley villainize him and accuse him of being motivated by hate.

It is not just the legislation he has proposed to expand government control into medical offices, homes and school sports — it is also because his letters are full of mistruths about the Montanans he represents, people he knows, or should be making an effort to get to know, since he is supposed to be working for them in Helena next month.

Mr. Fuller is the man who stood at a public meeting where he was supposed to address the library board of directors, but instead I saw him shame citizens gathered to demand their First Amendment protection against book banning be upheld — like an overzealous character from “Footloose.”

John Fuller spoke mistruths about me when I campaigned against him. I heard his volunteer call me a faggot from the Republican booth at the county fair — something for which their party chair has apologized, but for which Fuller has never taken any responsibility.

I’ve seen Mr. Fuller repeatedly call his constituents “those people” because they supported my campaign. Mr. Fuller’s disdain for people who do not worship or live their lives as he sees fit is palpable, and this is the reason that people perceive him to be motivated by a sense of superiority rather than a desire to serve or protect his community. He presumes to tell others how to raise their children.

In my opinion, it is abundantly clear that John Fuller does not believe that it is OK to be gay. In fact, in words and deeds he repeatedly demonstrates that being anything but straight and a certain type of Christian makes you a second-class citizen, not worthy of the full rights and responsibilities endowed on “true” Americans. This point of view must have made it challenging for him to teach high school history and civics where we all are equal under the law. He claims to do what he does to protect children, but I believe he is the kind of teacher who looks the other way when children who are “different” are bullied.

Irony is not dead — and it has a dark sense of humor. John justifies his every action by claiming it is to protect children. In fact, the only legislation he ever proposes when taking his taxpayer funded vacations to Helena is against the LGBTQ community and to undermine our right to have the government stay out of our private business (never any bills about affordable housing or veterans’ issues).

But his letters to this newspaper reveal who he really is; someone who greatly dislikes “those people” who were once the type of children for which he professes so much concern. Also a man who baldly states that democracy is a failed construct.

When accused of causing harm, he doubles down, lacking compassion or even the slightest bit of self-awareness as only the most self-righteous can do.

Behind the crass language of his letter of Dec. 1 was something even more disturbing. Dismissal of established medical procedures and placing his own opinions above those of medical professionals and loving parents is the height of arrogance. Transitioning is not new or experimental. It is immensely private, and the families involved make none of their decisions lightly. Parents do what they feel is best for their children and do not need Mr. Fuller’s amateur opinion in any case. No one is more aware of the long-term significance of their choices. These arguments are strawmen that John stands up to justify his prejudice, but what he is really doing is providing false witness against his neighbor.

What is new and what upsets Mr. Fuller is the advancement of equity for all citizens. It is OK to be out. It is OK to be gay. It is OK to be transgender. It is OK to be divorced. It is OK to be a woman. It is OK to be married to the person you love regardless of sex or race. In America, you can be any of these things and expect that your democratic government must respect your constitutional rights to be treated equally under the law.

When Mr. Fuller goes to Helena, we may need to remind him that he represents all of us. We are fortunate to live in this country that secures all of our rights to be equal under the law, but with these rights come responsibilities, and when Mr. Fuller forgets his, those of us who value everything America stands for are responsible to vocally and repeatedly remind him.

Kyle Waterman was the Democrat candidate for Kalispell’s Senate District 4 in the 2022 general election. He lives in Kalispell.