LSC board member apologizes for comparing LGBTQ supporters to ‘dung,' but ...

Chuck Hockema says he’s sorry if it sounded like he was speaking for the LSC school board, but anti-'woke' board member stands by what he said about his critics and their support of LGBTQ community

LSC school board member Chuck Hockema. (Photo: Dave Bangert)

A month after Chuck Hockema posted a social media message that compared those empathetic with the LGBTQ community with “child groomers” and “dung” on the bottom of a shoe, the Lafayette school board member apologized during the first board meeting of the new year.

Hockema opened Monday’s Lafayette School Corp. board meeting with a short statement, saying that his “comments were understood by some to be insensitive, crude and hurtful.”

“I apologize to anyone whom I offended,” Hockema said Monday night. “My comments were strictly my own and did not represent the opinions of any of my associates on the LSC school board.”

Brent Clemenz, wrapping up two years as president of the board, thanked Hockema, before reading his own statement that reiterated the board’s commitment to “respecting the culture and diversity of all students, including diversity in gender identity and sexual orientation.”

But Hockema said that clearing up that the rest of the board didn’t share his opinions didn’t mean he was backing away from what he wrote.

“Those were my words,” Hockema said. “And I stand by them.”