Today, a United States congresswoman my aunt Vicky started crying,
because gay people like me can get married.
>> I hope [SOUND] The gentleman you just heard from is Andrew Hartzler who's about
to speak some truth about his own aunt, representative Vicky Hartzler.
Let's watch and pray that my colleagues,
we'll find the courage to join me in opposing
this misguided and this dangerous bill.
>> So despite coming out to my aunt this past february,
I guess she's still just as much as a homophone.
>> Now, Vicky Hartzler did not get her way,
luckily the legislation meant to somewhat codify same sex marriage.
And offer protection should the Supreme Court reverse protections for
same sex marriage did in fact pass.
And got to say through that store, as fascinating as it was to see
a United States congresswoman cry on the house floor over equality for folks.
The benefit of that story was that we got to learn about Andrew Hartzler and
he joins us today.
Andrew thank you so much for coming in and speaking to us about your story.
>> Yeah, thank you for having me.
I wanted to start off, you've talked a little bit
about what it was like to disclose to your aunt to come out to your aunt.
And how you guys had a great relationship when you were younger, but
she didn't take it so well when you told her who you really are.
Can you talk a little bit about what that was like for
you and what your relationship is with her today?
Yeah, it's always difficult when coming out with someone and
they think that it's not really a big deal that they we'll say they still love you.
But they like to come over the fact that they don't accept you or
that they're like that's not like what I believe and
that's wrong but also love you.
But it's like I don't think our relationship is gonna be the same
because how can you love me if you don't accept me?
Fundamentally disagree with who I am as a person that doesn't really track.
>> Yeah, Andrew how was your relationship with her growing up?
Was she warm, Kind, did you guys see each other all the time, how was?
>> Yeah, so me and
my aunt Vicky actually we lived on the same tract of land on the same street and
in the summers cuzI have a cousin that's my same age, we would go to D C.
With my aunt and we would like remember me and
my cousin would like run around the tunnels underneath the capitol and
like try to escape the summer intern that was supposed to watch us.
I spent a lot of time with her and I had a lot of fun but
whenever I came out to her I was met with that same
message of I love you but I don't accept you.
So, was interesting in july when the Congress first
voted on the respect for marriage act like the initial vote.
I forget exactly what the term is on it, but
I remember looking at the roll call and seeing that my aunt abstained from voting.
And then she voted, she invited me to thanksgiving dinner,
which I was unable to come to because of other obligations.
So I kind of had this idea that she might be have a different
view cuz she abstained for voting.
And then I wake up this past Thursday a week ago today, and
I see this video of her on the house floor and I was like, wow,
this is my aunt right now, this is what she thinks and
it's yeah it's >> Yeah, I bet and I just want to give you
so much credit for the courage that you've shown not only in your specific
situation in speaking out against your aunt, which does take courage.
I mean, I can't even imagine what kind of reaction you've gotten both from
the public and maybe even from other fam family members, but
also the activism that you've been engaged in.
How you've been trying to change the country for the better legislatively,
for instance, one of the things that you're working
on is getting federal funding taken away from private institutions.
That somehow still get federal funding,
even if they engage in homophobic policies, discriminative policies.
It's federal money shouldn't be going to that no no public
funding should go toward that.
So can you tell me a little bit about that effort?
>> Yeah, so when I was a junior in college,
I went to oral roberts university.
I was reported to the dean's office because I brought my boyfriend
onto campus who went to another university and
I was called in with reports of thinks of homosexual activity.
And ultimately I was told that if I didn't go to these accountability meetings,
then I would be expelled and these meetings were conversion therapy.
And anyways I kept my head down, got through that and
then this was like right in January before Covid started in 2020.
So like Covid kind of helped and then I graduated in the summer after I graduated,
I got involved with reap the religious exemption accountability project.
And what they're doing is partnering with students from religious
institutions that cost the country and together we're in a class action
lawsuit that is suing the U S Department of Education.
Because right now all of these religious institutions receive
federal money through students who get pell grants who receive fast.
And that's government money that's been given to the students which is then given
to the university.
And for instance during the cares act like during the stimulus package that
Congress passed during Covid like the university that I want to receive like
several $100,000.
And then there being able to discriminate on the basis of sexual or gender identity.
>> And well not only that, I mean they're, they're forcing students into conversion.
I mean, I don't wanna call it conversion therapy it's not therapy,
it's torture you can't change someone's sexual identity.
I can't imagine how traumatic it is, when I think of conversion therapy,
I mean, we've done stories about really terrible methods used.
I mean, obviously there's propaganda that's supposed to make you feel shameful
about who you are, there's been electroshock therapy in the past.
Do you mind talking about what kind of tactics they
utilize try to change the sexuality of students?
>> Yeah, so I have a lot of experience with conversion therapy.
When I was 14, I was first subjected to it and
then I saw a conversion counselor off and on until my senior year of high school.
But what they do is they basically teach you to hate
yourself in a way that you're required to use
a large part of your brain to constantly repress.
And suppress like these emotions and attractions that you're feeling
because you're being told that that is inherently wrong.
And a big thing that they push is that the more attractions or temptations you have,
that means that you're not spending enough time with God.
And I remember when I was like 14 to 15 sitting across from this
conversion counselor and he was an ex gay in his like late fifties.
And he was telling me that yeah, to this day, I still have attractions towards
other men, but that just means I must have missed bible study that week or something.
And I was at that moment I knew okay, this isn't for me,
this is not real, this can't happen, this is torture, and
no, yeah >> Yeah So
Andrew I have more questions about that.
So do they ever give you a non religious reason not to be gay or
they just like, God hates the sin and it's terrible and
any moral like just garbage that doesn't make any sense.
Not logical, it's not anything it's just, hey, some rabbi,
maybe 2500 years ago said this maybe, but we're gonna just taunt you with it.
Is there anything else or is that their big idea is I talked
to the invisible guy in the sky and he says he hates it?
>> Most of it's all really backed up with religion I mean
christians love to use the religion like as a shield to hide behind.
And like my aunt Vicky did on the house floor,
she was like weaponizing her own religion.
And using it to frame queer people as a threat to her religion and
a threat to society.
Which then makes other people who believe my aunt's rhetoric,
then like demonize queer people and that's why there's so
much violence in today's society towards us.
Like we saw the two clubs shooting in Miami and
all these drag story hours which are being plagued with violence and
I would say my Aunt's a direct proponent of that violence.
>> Does your aunt know how embarrassing she is?
>> I think my Aunt has really strong convictions,
I would say when she was crying,
I would say that those were genuine tears
just because I've seen my aunt cry.
Most of the time she's only ever cried on the house floor when it's
about abortion but, >> I mean, look, this is not a question,
it's more of a comment, but I can't help myself.
I find her to be incredibly embarrassing [LAUGH] And the fact and
I don't agree with you.
I think that she was genuine in what she was saying I don't think that those were
fake tears.
I think there are all sorts of Republican politicians out there who want to earn
political brownie points with evangelical voters,
so they'll say all sorts of things that they don't believe.
And then behind the scenes their mistresses are getting abortions,
they're having all sorts of affairs.
I think your aunt actually believes what she's saying, and
you know what too bad for her because she is cutting wonderful family
members out of her life, in order to believe in a doctrine of hate.
A doctrine that somehow looks down at you when in reality what
she's advocating for is essentially propagandizing and
traumatizing individuals who are born with a sexual identity.
That can't be changed, a sexual orientation, that can't be changed.
So I know that's not a comment, that's not a question it's more of a comment.
But I just wanted to let you know about that because we live in a country that's
diverse in so many different ways, not only through race, gender,
sexual identity.
We have so many different people with different beliefs,
different values and we have to live together.
And she has chosen a path that treats an entire population of people
within the United States as second class citizens.
And someone who has that kind of ideology in my mind,
has no place serving as a lawmaker or serving as a representative.
So, if you ever speak to her again,
just let her know that there are people in this country.
Including myself who celebrate the fact that she lost her primary race and
will no longer serve as a United States congresswoman
>> Which actually has made a question
Andrew have you spoken to her since?
>> A week ago, yeah no I haven't.
I mean, I was pretty convinced that if I had already had my conversation with her,
and she knew that she had a relative in that was gay.
And she still thought that it was okay and acceptable, and she felt good about making
that speech, then I knew that nothing I could say could ever really change.
>> Yeah, no, and ultimately, >> I think if, yeah.
>> Andrew from your perspective, I totally get it, what are you gonna do?
Call her and say, hey, by the way, and
I'm not immoral what kind of conversation is, this is absurd, right?
But on the other hand, I know I have nephews if I had
said something that made them obviously upset.
And then they were speaking out in public for the very first thing I
would do is call them, and say, hey, are you okay, how do you feel?
And even if she thinks, my God, the homosexuality is so
immoral, because why, by the way?
Because she was brainwashed into that ideology when she was young, right?
And she doesn't know she's been brainwashed and she's an occult.
And she was taught hatred and she now believes in hatred, but
in her mind, she probably still loves you.
And you're her nephew and she remembers you when you were growing up,
and she was like, so has she not reached out to you at all?
Okay, yeah seems like such a nice person.
Yeah, I know being gay is immoral, but
being terrible to your family members apparently, moral.
Yeah, that makes sense.
>> Yeah, and it, kind of flies in the face of hate the sin, but love the sinner,
because if she genuinely loved you, she would reach out.
And maybe maybe reflect on how her public statements make you feel and
make countless others feel, not just in this country, but across the globe.
>> I guarantee you she's angry at you.
Like, well, you wouldn't let me just hate you now, you you're going and
doing public appearances talking about that I'm the bad guy.
When all I was just trying to do was make sure that people like,
you don't have the same rights as other people cuz you're obviously inferior.
What I guarantee you she blames you instead of herself,
>> But Andrew, look,
I just want to end this by saying thank you for the work you're doing, because
again, it goes outside of your personal life and your personal experiences.
You're not just fighting for yourself, you're fighting for
a community that's really under attack aggressively right now.
And I just have so much respect for really anyone who's a strong fighter and
you represent that, so thank you so much for what you're doing.
Keep fighting and just know that you have friends here at TYT who have got
your back anytime you need it.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you Andrew