What is it with Republicans and their issues with sex? There is the candidate for Senate in Alabama Roy Moore who was banned from the shopping malls, because he kept trying to pick up underage girls. Then, there was Donald Trump’s long-time friend Jeffrey Epstein who was arrested for sex trafficking girls as young as 14. Let us not forget a well-known columnist who just accused POTUS with rape.
Former GOP statesman of the year, Tennessee State Representative Bill Sanderson had a particularly unsavory story. The married 59-year-old politician voted for anti-LGBTQ legislation multiple times. Yet as it turned out, he had allegedly been hitting on men 40 years younger than he was through a dating site GRINDR, the LGBTQ Nation reported.
Political reporter for Tennessee news, politics, and gossip site The Dog and Pony Show Cari Wade Gervin alleged that Sanderson had been “openly soliciting sex.” She also accused him of sending “sexually explicit messages and pictures to men almost 40 years his junior.” This all the while he was voting for anti-LBGTQ legislation.
As a result of the publicity around his same-sex meetups, Sanderson resigned, and he said it was to give more time to running his business, the White Squirrel Winery.
Five years ago, the gossip blog The Dirty published some messages that Sanderson allegedly sent to a male Vanderbilt student. In his messages, he said he was “a state rep.” Then, Sanderson added that he represented three counties that made up his own district. Apparently, he was not that concerned about revealing his identity at the time.
Gervin wrote that although the Grindr and text messages could have been faked:
‘The Grindr and text messages I have seen do appear to be authentic. They use Sanderson’s real cell phone number. Sources confirm having been told about the messages at the time by their friends who received them. And one man I interviewed said he met Sanderson at his farm in Kenton.’
Sanderson allegedly wrote in his Grindr profile:
‘I’ve seen a lot and done a lot, but I really haven’t had a connection with a guy and I have a burning desire to have that relationship. I like down and dirty guy to guy play too! So, I guess you might say, nothing will be held back …’
In response to the allegations, Sanderson insisted that the profile, images, and messages were not his. Gavin wrote:
‘(Sanderson) says he was not in an open relationship and told me that if I published this story it would ruin his marriage. He denied being either bisexual or gay or having ever sexually touched a man.’
The reporter also wrote about an anonymous UT Martin student who:
‘…”connected with Sanderson on Grindr several years ago when he was 19.” The student says Sanderson met him at his winery and gave him a tour and wine to drink and take home. Later, he said Sanderson massaged his shoulders and “otherwise hit on him in a manner that made him feel uncomfortable.” Their meeting was allegedly interrupted when Sanderson’s wife unexpectedly returned home.’
She added:
‘He was pressured by the legislator to make up a story on the fly about why he was on the property.’
According to his supposed Grindr profile, Sanderson said that his name was “Brian.” He claimed to be in an “open relationship” and included photos of his “naked torso and genitals.” The politician claimed the images had been faked while others were lifted from his Facebook page. The contact phone number was Sanderson’s winery.
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