Last week, the Alabama House Republican caucus took a stand to back University of North Alabama Student Government Association President Jake Statom in a dispute over a social media post that included a photo of a T-shirt with a rainbow that read, “Born this way? You must be born again.”
Critics have called on Statom to resign. However, House Republicans warned against efforts to “cancel” Statom.
The effort was led by State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville). During an interview with Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Kiel stressed the importance of lawmakers protecting the rights of individuals, including the First Amendment, at taxpayer-funded institutions of higher learning, like UNA.