Alaska High Schooler: Congressman's Apology 'Doesn't Mean Crap'

Alaska Congressman Don Young, a 21-term Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, saw his speaking time cut short Tuesday when he told students at a Wasilla High School assembly that marriage equality was tantamount to "bull sex," and suggested that a lack of support from friends and family was responsible for teenage suicide -- less than a week after a student at the school took his own life.

Now, the student who asked the 81-year-old Republican about marriage equality is speaking out, saying a written apology from the Congressman's office doesn't undo the damage of the hurtful message.

The Huffington Post caught up with 17-year-old Zachary Grier, a senior at Wasilla High School who asked Young at Tuesday's assembly why he still opposed marriage equality after a federal court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

"I was pretty upset," Grier told HuffPost of Young's response. "I can understand having your own opinion, and that's fine. But having your own opinion and coming into a room filled with high schoolers and telling them that same-sex marriage is the same as two bulls having sex -- in my opinion, that's wrong."

The Alaska Dispatch News reported that "Young, 81, acted in a disrespectful and sometimes offensive manner to some students, used profanity and started talking about bull sex when confronted with a question about same-sex marriage" when speaking to students and teachers at the Tuesday assembly.

When a teacher asked the elected official about Alaska's disproportionately high suicide rates, Young mentioned the influence of alcohol and depression, but then went on to say that "suicide shows a lack of support from friends and family," according to ADN's report.

Young's comments, which were not filmed, prompted gasps from the crowd -- along with a shouted response from a friend of the deceased student informing the Congressman that "[The victim] had friends. He had support."

That outburst apparently angered Young, who engaged in a tense exchange that ended when the Congressman called the teenager a "smartass."

Although Wasilla High School student Grier didn't ask the question about suicide, it's clear he was impacted by Young's insensitive and inaccurate response.

"To hear that it was because you weren't a good friend, I mean that makes someone hurt more than just having that happen," Grier told HuffPost. "To hear that it's your fault after the fact is definitely a heavier blow."

On Wednesday, Young's office issued a statement via email positioning Young's comments about suicide as "very serious and forthright," saying the Congressman "discussed what he believes are leading causes of youth suicide in our state and shared some suggestions for helping family members and friends who are dealing with suicidal thoughts."

"In no way did Congressman Young mean to upset anyone with his well-intentioned message," said Young spokesman Matt Shuckerow, according to the Associated Press. "In light of the tragic events affecting the Wasilla High School community, he should have taken a much more sensitive approach."

Grier isn't buying that line of reasoning. "In my opinion, a written apology doesn't mean crap because it's not from him," Grier told HuffPost. "I don't know how anything was well-intentioned there. Whatever was intended well was not taken well, I'll put it like that. Because of the way he made it come across and because of the views that he's sticking to, a day after he heard how badly it affected our school."

And when Young himself was asked about his controversial comments at a separate speaking engagement Wednesday after the story grabbed headlines nationwide, Young stood by his inaccurate statements about the cause of suicide, and said the students were disrespectful. He also claimed "government largesse" was a factor in the state's high suicide rate.

"I am very upset with the school system that would take the side of individuals that are being disrespectful to their fellow students," Young said at Palmer Senior Center Wednesday, according to an audio recording of his remarks obtained by Alaska Dispatch News from Young's Democratic challenger Forrest Dunbar.

The AP notes that "Young has a history of colorful -- sometimes offensive -- quips, and has made headlines recently more for gaffes than policy." In June, the House Ethics Committee found that Young used campaign funds for personal travel and accepted improper gifts, ordering the lawmaker to repay the money. In August, Young apologized for grabbing the arm of Congressional staffer as the staffer tried to block Young's entrance to a conference room. And earlier this month, Young's challenger claimed that the Congressman threatened him after the candidate lightly touched his arm.

Nevertheless, the AP reports that Young's chances of re-election are strong. First elected in 1973, Young is the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives. HuffPost notes he recently earned the endorsement of Alaska's Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, although she did issue a statement calling on the Congressman to give "much more thought" to sensitive issues like suicide before speaking up.