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Monday, Apr 1, 2013 7:18 PM UTC

GOP leader doubles down on anti-gay remarks

Republican National Committee's Dave Agema says he is just trying to maintain the GOP's traditional platform

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Topics: Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT Rights, lgbtq rights, , ,

GOP leader doubles down on anti-gay remarks (Credit: AP)

Michigan Republican National Committee leader Dave Agema continues to defend an article he shared on Facebook that suggests, among other outrageous claims, that gays and lesbians are responsible for “half the murders in major cities.” Agema responded to critics of the post by saying the piece was “worth sharing given the debate over gay marriage that is happening in the Supreme Court.”

Agema returned to Facebook this weekend to respond to a GOP petition calling for a more inclusive party. According to a release from Grand Traverse County Republican precinct delegate Dennis Lennox, Agema joined the thread and posted: “The real issue is the homosexual community is pushing same-sex marriage which will be taught in schools as an alternative lifestyle.”

Another delegate responded: “Our point is that it is one thing to articulate your values but another to be mean about them. Virtuous decorum is symbolic of a principled man of integrity. Let’s keep the smut on the sidelines.”

Soon after, Agema fired back:

Brad, you know very well there was no malice on my part, but great name calling and intimidation on yours. What evidence are you willing to accept?

I can send you reems [sic] of studies showing the negative health affects [sic] of this lifestyle, instead you would have us accept it, teach it to our kids, include it in our platform and cause great harm to society.

You have misquoted and maligned — exactly what you accused me of but I didn’t. The people of America have the right to know what lays ahead if the Supreme Court rules the wrong way. Dr. Joseph footnoted everywhere he got his information. Deal with it.

You want to change the landscape of our party in a direction that has not be accepted for over 230 years. I’m trying to maintain our platform. You are trying to change it.

Ask yourself what is mean? Ask yourself what facts you are willing to accept or whose studies are valid. There are no studies that show this lifestyle is healthy nor better than one man and one woman, both for the couple and the kids.

Lennox and other state GOP officials have called for Agema’s resignation:

After trying to hide his ignorance and bigotry for several days, Dave Agema has finally admitted he seeks to promote hate, viciousness and vitriol instead of the Republican Party’s traditional forward-looking message of equal opportunity for all. Dave Agema’s extremism has no place in our Republican Party.

 

 

 

Katie McDonough is an assistant editor for Salon, focusing on lifestyle. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com. More Katie Mcdonough.

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