Republican Lawmaker Meets Teens, Asks If They're Virgins

[news]

A Republican lawmaker in Washington state startled a group of teen visitors by asking which ones were virgins and even suggesting one was not, according to the Seattle Times.

The high school students had met with state Rep. Mary Dye to advocate for expanded insurance coverage for birth control as part of Planned Parenthood's Teen Lobbying Day when she asked the highly intrusive question.

"After she made the statement about virginity, all of my teens looked at me,” Rachel Todd, a Planned Parenthood worker accompanying the kids, told the Seattle Times. “And I said, ‘You don’t have to answer that. You don’t have to answer that.’”

Dye then spoke about the importance of making good choices, but it was the virginity question that stood out. 

One of the students told the paper the comments were "insane," a sentiment many on social media agreed with: 

"We are going to need the name of your group, time of mtg requested, and virginity status please" - Mary Dye's scheduler, probably #waleg
— Jamal Raad (@jamalraad) January 19, 2016

Hope they asked Mary Dye what goes on her bdrm | State Rep asks visiting teens if they’re virgins https://t.co/Qxfa1DNpWd via @seattletimes
— Billie Livingston (@BillieLiving) January 19, 2016

Mary Dye R-Pomeroy, fascinated with teen group's virginity is "insane" and "unprofessional". Nobody wants your opinions, do your job.
— David Prescott (@sporez) January 19, 2016

Dye later said she was trying to talk about empowerment and good choices.

“In hindsight, a few of the thoughts I shared, while well-intended, may have come across as more motherly than what they would expect from their state representative,” Dye said, according to the Times. “If anything I said offended them or made them feel uncomfortable, I apologize.”

(h/t Raw Story)

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