A Republican state lawmaker who backed anti-gay “religious freedom” legislation and opposed gay marriage admitted that he had an account on cheating site Ashley Madison.
State Rep. Allen Peake made the confession to family and friends in an email on Sunday, according to the AJC.
[T]he truth is that several years ago, I was on this site during a very difficult period in my marriage. It was stupid and I was an idiot for going on there. Two and a half years ago I told her about every detail of my involvement on this site.
Through tears and heartache, much pain and anguish, and with intense professional counseling, we made the decision to work to save our marriage. Her powerful and merciful gift of forgiveness helped us make it through some very dark and lonely days, and come out the other side with a stronger relationship and marriage. Forgiveness is indeed life-changing, and miraculous.
How quaint. Consider that Ashley Madison helps people cheat on their spouses. The wesbite's recent hacking has exposed tons of hypocrites like Allen, who make moral stands about the sanctity of marriage by condemning gay unions, all the while using websites to undermine their own marriage.
Peake, in a follow-up interview with the Macon Telegraph, expressed remorse that his private affairs have become public – nevermind that he's been more than happy to stick his legislative nose into the lives of gay couples.
“I’m deeply, incredibly sorry to the people I’ve hurt,” Peake said during an interview. “I was a complete idiot to go there in the first place.”
He added, “This was a private matter that we thought we had resolved.”
Worse, Peake admits to being conflicted over co-sponsoring the controversial “religious freedom” legislation this year, and opposing gay marriage, while having a gay brother.
Peake's brother Merwin, a corporate recruiter for TrueBridge Resources, testified during a March 24 hearing for state Sen. Josh McKoon's controversial “religious freedom” bill. Merwin Peake spoke out against the bill and warned that the legislation would give pause to progressive companies looking to move employees to Georgia.
Rep. Peake also successfully championed medical marijuana legislation last session that leaves out people with HIV.
