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Wyoming US Senator Lummis Apologizes For Portions Of Speech At UW Graduation
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis apologized Monday (May 16th) after getting booed and heckled for remarks she made on sexual identity during a University of Wyoming graduation speech.
A first-term Republican from deep-red Wyoming, Lummis said in Saturday’s speech in Laramie that human rights are derived from God, but that the government seeks to redefine many of them.
“Even fundamental, scientific truths such as the existence of two sexes, male and female, are subject to challenge these days,” Lummis said.
She paused and smiled while many in the crowd responded with boos and heckling.
“And I challenge those of you,” she continued. But she didn’t complete that thought, saying: “I’m not making a comment on the fact that there are people who transition between sexes.”
Lummis is a former congresswoman, state treasurer and University of Wyoming graduate who’s been prominent in Wyoming politics for decades.
Until now, at least, she has been less outspoken than many Republicans who’ve made a major issue of gender and sex identity.
The stir happened in a community known for the murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in 1998, a watershed event in LGBTQ activism.
A college town of about 32,000 people, Laramie leans left compared to the vast majority of Wyoming.
“Intersex members of our community who have diverse chromosomal makeup should be seen and recognized,” leaders of the university’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion said in a statement Monday. “We deeply regret the harmful impact these words at our graduation ceremony may have had on those graduating as well as their families and friends.”
Scientific research has cast doubt on a solid biological line between male and female.
Lummis did not answer an emailed question Monday asking if she could cite published, peer-reviewed research showing the existence of two sexes as a “fundamental” biological truth.
Lummis sought with her “reference to the existence of two sexes” to highlight that “the metric of biological sex” is being debated, she said in a statement.
“I share the fundamental belief that women and men are equal, but also acknowledge that there are biological differences and circumstances in which these differences need to be recognized. That being said, it was never my intention to make anyone feel unwelcomed or disrespected, and for that I apologize,” Lummis said.
The school “supports and celebrates its diverse communities that collectively make us the wonderful place that we are,” university President Ed Seidel said in a statement.
Steve Olver
May 16, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Lummis said nothing requiring apology.She blew it when She did apologize.once again confirming the farce and fraud and fakeness of polititions.disgusting.ill say it..it is a biological fact there are two sexes among humanity.the continued fraudulent,foolish irresponsible attempts at dispute-ing this fact is nauseatingly redundantly stupid
Thomas Jones
May 16, 2022 at 8:14 pm
No need to apologize for the truth.
Charles Cole
May 16, 2022 at 8:20 pm
Gotta wonder when people who are defending real science will show the intestinal fortitude to stand up to extremism in the form of heckling and overt denial of long-settled science, in this case Biology. Come on, Senator. Stand up, speak your mind, and STOP this nonsensical apologizing for making factual statements.
Harriet Oleson
May 17, 2022 at 4:26 pm
So no apology Charley? Have you never offended anyone inadvertantly and apologized for it. I think such an apology is called common courtesy. Perhaps such an apology beneath the great Cole. At least Senator Lummis has not forgotten how to be polite, even though her audience was not,
MIKE DUNCAN
May 17, 2022 at 8:00 am
NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE
Peggy King
May 17, 2022 at 8:49 am
I see no reason for the apology. UW graduates ought to have more integrity than to heckle a keynote speaker.
dennis west
May 17, 2022 at 9:26 am
lots of good research available on the physiology, psychological and behavioral spectrum of human gender and sexuality. Bit of work required to read and sort through it all. More popular to be simple minded and voice beliefs and catch phrases. Ms.Lummis erred in doing that in an academic setting where, by definition, the audience reads. Oops, she misread the room.
Thomas Jones
May 17, 2022 at 12:58 pm
I’ll stick to the science found in BIO101, Denny. No catch phrases necessary.
dennis west
May 17, 2022 at 1:24 pm
yeah, when its tough to understand, keep it simple.
Thomas Jones
May 18, 2022 at 9:12 am
As it should be. I also understand human nature.
Rick Muir
May 18, 2022 at 8:49 am
You are correct Dennis, she “misread the room.” She apparently thought she was speaking to mature college graduates about to embark on their journeys into the world of hard knocks. You are also correct that she should have kept it “simple,” perhaps just handing them all participation trophies and wishing them “lot’s of luck.”. By the way, I’m still waiting for Ed Seidel and the leaders of the university’s counsel on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to issue apologies for the boorish behavior by some of the graduates. I won’t hold my breadth.
BC Perryman
May 19, 2022 at 2:24 pm
This is one of the biggest mistakes Sen. Lummis has ever made. Apology was not warranted and it reflects negatively on the Senator. She should take a stand and then stand and deliver on it unapologetically period.