Liston Apologizes On House Floor For "Sluts" Remark

State Rep. Larry Liston (R-Colorado Springs) apologized on the House floor Friday morning for calling unwed teenage parents "sluts" during a GOP legislative caucus meeting Wednesday, the Rocky Mountain News is reporting.

The remark, made during a discussion on Colorado's high teenage pregnancy rate, sparked outrage among many legislators who felt the slur demeaned teenage parents and ran counter to a pro-life stance.

"Members, I believe in personal accountability and responsibility," an emotional Liston said on the floor Friday, according to the Rocky.

"On Wednesday, in a small group meeting, I used a derogatory word which was inappropriate and insensitive," he said. "I was wrong to use the word and I am truly sorry for the offense it may have caused. And I have learned an important lesson."

"I apologize to all of you and I hope we can move forward to do the work of the people we serve," Liston concluded.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Springs Gazette quoted Liston as saying, "In my parents’ day and age, they (unmarried teenage parents) were sent away, they were shunned, they were called what they are. There was at least a sense of shame."

"There’s no sense of shame today," he continued, according to the Gazette. "Society condones it. . . . I think it’s wrong. They’re sluts. And I don’t mean just the women. I mean the men, too.”