eva young
Eva Young is President of Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis with her cat, Kiddleleewink. You can also read her other blog here.
	latest posts   Voters Rally for Gay Equality at the Minnesota State Capitol   Christian Grantham Gets GayPatriot on the Record   Exit Stage Right for Gay Patriot   More on HRC's Joe Solmonese   Bachmann Critic Gets Hate Mail

March 28, 2005

Here's an update to a story I've been following: why has GayPatriot has quit blogging. Last night GayPatriot emailed me the story Christian Grantham broke here.

Christian posted the complete text of GayPatriot's post:

Wanted for crimes against the gay community. Wanted for repeatedly conducting outing witch hunts against gays who do not believe in radical liberal anti-American ideals. For repeated violations of privacy of gay Americans. For conducting systematic civil liberties attacks on gay Americans.

WANTED! Let's do something about these gay terrorists who have infected our community with their hatred and self-loathing bigotry of gay Americans who wish to live their lives in peace.

I didn't see this post, but understand it included pictures of both John Aravosis and Mike Rogers. The conservatives commenting on this post thought it over the top.

Hmm, c'mon now GayPatriot. You are more than capable of writing convincing arguments against John Aravosis and Michael Rogers. This is eerily familiar to weblistings of abortion doctors.

While "terrorists" could apply in the true definition of the word, it is a bit salacious since most modern people think of terrorists using physical violence. Idiots reading this posting might be tempted into doing something stupid. This has a bad "Law & Order" episode written all over it.

Lets fight arguments with arguments, not namecalling.
Mickey

And, GP, while I appreciate your vigor and fire on the issue, Mickey is right -- this is a little over-the-top. While I'm not uncomfortable with calling them "terrorists", because, in the strictest sense they are, it probably would be better to stick with "hatemongers and bigots".
North Dallas Thirty | Email | Homepage | 03.25.05 - 12:06 pm | #

I would venture to suggest "terrorist" goes a bit too far, it's kind of the same as when lefties say that sleep deprivation or putting a wet blanket on a terrorist's head is "torture."

Calling them "Extortionists," I wouldn't have any problem with. "Bullying Hypocrites," ditto. Given the way they act toward those who disagree with them, you could make a case for "Fascist Bullies" as well.
V the K

I think a commenter on the Independent Gay Forum says it best:

Calling someone a "terrorist" would probably be a cause for a libel lawsuit; it certainly isn't in the normal realm of the back and forth of vigorous political debate.

GayPatriot went over the top and beyond decency, and it sounds like Rogers did as well (the proper response would be to contact an attorney, not to harass your opponent at his place of employment).

This whole thing is a soap opera and both sides deserve each other.
Mike Silverman

Though I do not believe that calling someone a terrorist is libelous. That is an opinion. However calling Gay Patriot's boss at work was not the action of someone who fears being stalked. Gay Patriot doesn't mention his workplace on his blog - so there's no good reason for bringing his employer into it - except if the motivation is silencing Gay Patriot. It was the action of someone wanting to escalate the situation.

I contacted John Aravosis this weekend, and he told me he did not know about why this happened, though believed the post had something to do with it. I just emailed Rogers at blogactive@blogactive.com to get his side of the story. Rogers claimed in comments to Christian's post on the topic, that Christian had gotten the story wrong.