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| Greg Davis and his family. |
PopGoesTheNews.com A right-wing U.S. politician has come out of the closet after an audit of his expenses revealed he shopped at an adults-only store in Toronto's gay village.
Greg Davis, the Republican mayor of Southaven, Mississippi — and a married father of three — told a Memphis newspaper on Thursday: "At this point in my life and in my career, while I have tried to maintain separation between my personal and public life, it is obvious that this can no longer remain the case. I think that it is important that I discuss the struggles I have had over the last few years when I came to the realization that I am gay."
His revelation comes after a state audit indicated he used his city-issued credit card for $170,000 in personal expenses, including booze and dinners at upscale restaurants. The audit also revealed Davis spent $67 at Priape, a store described on its website as "Canada's premiere gay lifestyle store and sex shop." Davis visited the Church Street shop during a trip to Toronto with warehouse developers from his state. The mayor told The Commercial Appeal he doesn't recall what he purchased at Priape, which sells underwear, sex toys and adult videos.
Southaven, a 20-minute drive south of Memphis, is Mississippi's third-largest city. Davis was elected in 2009 to his fourth-term as mayor. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress in 2008 on a conservative family values platform.
Davis, 45, apologized to his constituents but said he will not resign. "I was not honest enough with myself to be honest with them. But I have lived my life in public service for 20-plus years, and in order for me to remain sane and move on, I have got to start being honest about who I am."
Davis has been married to his wife Suzann for 19 years and has three young daughters. According to his official biography, the family is active in Southaven's Heartland Baptist Church. On his campaign website, Suzann boasts that her husband is a great father who can "do one of the best ponytails you have ever seen!"
