Agema, a prominent Republican and former West Michigan state representative, is facing calls for his resignation after he posted an article to his Facebook page, titled “Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals.”

In the article, written by a “Frank Joseph, M.D.,” the homosexual lifestyle is attacked, being called “filthy,” and supported with statistics published nearly 30 years ago. The article says homosexuals are responsible for spreading the AIDS virus in America, are more likely to suffer from substance abuse and cause “half the murders in large cities.”

Since making national headlines for his activity online, Agema hasn’t backed down or apologized for his actions and even has gone as far as to call the requests for his resignation a “joke.”

But Agema’s misguided mindset on this issue has hindered his ability to cope with what really seems to be the underlying joke in this situation: The total destruction of his political reputation.

Agema’s anti-gay sentiments last week serve as the latest installment in numerous social commentaries prominent GOP figures have made that make you want to shake your head in disgust.

As the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on same-sex marriage, Agema chose to go online and post an article to his Facebook page, based on 30-year-old statistics from an unreliable source.

As our country waited on the edge of its seat to see if our justices would deliver a landmark step toward fuller social equality, Agema chose to do what many GOP figures have grown accustomed to doing and took actions that made his party look worse on the whole.

It was an unprofessional move that abused much of the responsibility he has toward his constituents and a call for his immediate resignation should not have come as a surprise.

But what is refreshing about this story is the number of other prominent Michigan Republicans who have stepped up in support of Agema’s resignation.

On Wednesday, Grand Traverse County Republican precinct delegate Dennis Lennox issued a statement, signed by 20 other Michigan Republicans, condemning Agema’s actions and calling for his resignation.

Kalamazoo County Republican Chairman David Worthams also was vocal about his distaste for Agema’s actions, and said his ego was the main thing holding him back from an apology.

Whatever Agema’s reasoning might be for standing by his statements, I hope the backlash he has received during the past week is a long-overdue wake-up call.

Despite what some might believe, the anti-gay sentiments Agema released to his Facebook friends don’t represent an issue still separating the Republican party from the rest of the country, but of misguided members who have no other forum to release their hate.

Whether Agema still chooses to post such profane and misguided material on his Facebook wall by this time next week, it really won’t matter to most.

After hopefully resigning, his social media activity will become a nonexistent issue, not worth national or local attention.