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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- It's been a whirlwind couple of days for State Representative Zach Wyatt of Novinger, who came out Wednesday during a capitol news conference.

In a candid interview with KTVO on Friday, Wyatt talked very openly about being gay, coming out and being in the national spotlight.

He said he so relieved to finally be able to be himself.

"It's been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Wyatt. “It's pretty great, I'll tell you. I'm no longer lying to myself about my sexuality, and I think that that's a plus, and...I've been a lot happier in the last two days even though I've been crazy busy.”

On Thursday night, Wyatt did his first national television interview about Missouri's "Don't Say Gay" bill and his decision to come out this week during a news conference in Jefferson City.

Wyatt appeared on MSNBC's "The Last Word" with Lawrence O'Donnell.

He said the public response to his announcement that he is gay has been overwhelmingly positive.

Wyatt has received about 2,000 e-mails in the past 48 hours, all positive except for 10 or so.

Wyatt told KTVO those e-mails of support have come from as far away as Europe, Australia, even South Africa.

A gay doctor from Springfield, Mo., even sent him flowers at his capitol office.

He said he shared his news with his family last week ahead of this week's very public announcement.

"I came out to them actually the week prior,” said Wyatt. “Most of them said, 'Well we knew,' or I think my favorite quote was my brother saying, 'Well YEAH!' So, you know, it's been great…They've been a great support system, and I truly appreciate it."

Wyatt is not seeking re-election because he is going to college in Hawaii this fall to study marine biology.

He said he still would have come out even if he was running for re-election.

As for Missouri's "Don't Say Gay" bill, Wyatt says it is dead for this session, and he thinks the chances of it coming up in the next session are slim.

In the full unedited interview above, Wyatt’s also talks about dating women, being bullied as a child and rumors he has heard about why he is really moving to Hawaii.