A University of Oklahoma regent who likened gay people to pedophiles during an Oklahoma City public affairs TV show says he will resign before the start of the upcoming academic year.
Vice Chair Kirk Humphreys said Thursday he does not want to be a distraction and announced plans to resign at a board meeting during which members were scheduled to discuss "any board member(s) as it may pertain to board leadership positions."
Humphreys on Tuesday publicly apologized for his comments, saying he regrets hurting people. The LGBTQ advocacy group Freedom Oklahoma had called for Humphreys to resign.
Freedom Oklahoma Director Troy Stevenson praised Humphreys' decision, calling it the most appropriate response and the outcome the group had hoped for.
In a statement, OU President David Boren thanked Humphreys for his service to the university but added OU would remain committed to building a "strong and inclusive community."
"I hope this experience will serve as an opportunity for all members of the OU family to recommit ourselves to this spirit of inclusivity," Boren said.
Humphreys said Tuesday during a public apology that his comments on the show that aired Dec. 10 went "off the rails" and that he regrets hurting people.
Freedom Oklahoma had called for Humphreys to resign, but Stevenson joined Humphreys during the Tuesday announcement and didn't renew his call for a resignation, just saying he opposed Humphreys becoming chairman of the board of regents.
